| |
 |
| September 8th, 2005 |
|
Media Contact(s): |
|
Printable Version |
|
SENATE PANEL APPROVES HATCH BILL TO PROTECT WOMEN
Senator Hatch Calls for Full Senate Passage of Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization |
| |
Washington – The Senate Judiciary Committee today reported legislation that reauthorizes the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), a 1994 law sponsored by Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah) and Sen. Joseph Biden (D-Del.) that has played a vital role in protecting women from the tragedy of violence and abuse.
“We have renewed and extended VAWA’s programs while maintaining its core mission: helping states protect women when they’re in their homes and with their families, where they should be safest,” Hatch said. “I consider passing VAWA to be one of my greatest achievements as a Utah Senator. This law directly addresses violence against women and is strengthening our families, our communities, and our nation.”
The original Act and subsequent legislation created new criminal penalties for federal interstate domestic violence, stalking and firearms crimes. It strengthened federal penalties for repeat sex offenders and required states and territories to enforce protection orders issued by other states. The Act is scheduled to expire this year, and the legislation Hatch advocates would reauthorize and expand these targeted programs for five additional years.
VAWA also authorized the Legal Assistance for Victims Program (LAV), which has helped Utah Legal Services to provide counsel and advice to 1,226 victims and represent 410 victims in court actions since 2003.
The 1994 law also created the Office on Violence Against Women, currently directed by Diane Stuart of Utah, which coordinates the federal funds that support rape prevention education, domestic violence intervention programs, battered women’s shelters and law enforcement and prosecution services. Since its enactment, VAWA has provided more than $1.6 billion in grants to help states and local governments train personnel and establish domestic violence and sexual assault units that assist victims of violence.
Senator Hatch's full statement in today's committee mark up follows:
Statement of Sen. Orrin G. Hatch
before the
United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
Mr. Chairman, I want to begin by thanking you and your staff for having the foresight to schedule this markup for today. With the passing of the Chief Justice and the postponement of Judge Roberts’ confirmation hearings, this Committee faced the possibility of not being able to return to its ambitious legislative agenda until the end of this month. In my opinion, there are few pieces of legislation as important as the reauthorization of VAWA, the Violence Against Women Act. It expires at the end of this month, and I hope that we will be able to report this bipartisan bill out of Committee this morning.
I want to thank you and Senator Biden, as well as your staff, for working so hard to create this solid compromise bill. I believe that this process has shown the Senate at its best. Though we never lost sight of our principles, we listened, and we worked, and we were willing to give on both sides. It is a better bill today because of the conversations that we had with staff from the Housing, Banking, and HELP Committees, as well as the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security.
Yet it is not a perfect bill. We went a long way toward making certain that the protections of VAWA applied to all persons, regardless of gender, but I still believe that we can go even further. Still, we have renewed and extended VAWA’s programs while maintaining its core mission—helping the states to protect people in their homes and with their families, where they should be safest.
For example, we are reauthorizing the Legal Assistance for Victims Program (LAV). Since receiving its first LAV grant in 2003, Utah Legal Services has provided counsel and advice to 1,226 victims and represented 410 victims in court actions. This is a vital Utah program. And with the federal government’s assistance, this critical office is better able to fulfill its mission. I have no doubt that everyone around this table could share similar stories.
The Manager’s Amendment that we have put together addresses many legitimate concerns with the legislation as it was introduced. We all know that this bill has broad bipartisan support not only on this committee but also on the floor. I thank my colleagues for their hard work and ask them to help us move this out of Committee today.
|
| |
| ### |
| |
| |
| |
|
|
