Senate Includes Sen. Franken's Provisions in Measure to Protect Victims of Sexual Violence
Senator Urges Enactment of Senate-passed Violence Against Women Act
U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) said today that the Senate included two key provisions he wrote when it passed the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA) to help protect women who are survivors of sexual and domestic violence.
The bill includes Sen. Franken's Housing Rights for Victims of Domestic and Sexual Violence Act that would make it unlawful to evict a woman from federally-supported housing just because she is a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Also included is his Survivors of Sexual Assault Act, which ensures that survivors of sexual assault are never forced to pay for their own rape kits.
"The passage of this bill sends a message: domestic violence will not be tolerated in America," said Sen. Franken. "I'm proud that this bill includes provisions I fought for, to ensure that survivors of sexual assault will never again suffer the indignity of paying for their own rape kits and that women can't be evicted from their homes when they're most vulnerable - when they need a roof over their heads the most. Paul and Sheila Wellstone also shared a commitment to ending domestic violence, and it was a privilege to honor their legacy today by passing VAWA."
Last week, Sen. Franken delivered a speech on the Senate floor urging his colleagues to pass VAWA.
In April 2012, Sen. Franken voted for a similar reauthorization of VAWA passed by the Senate, which the House never took up for a vote.
