Senator Stabenow Statement on Senate Passage of the Violence Against Women Act
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow today issued the following statement praising Senate reauthorization of the bipartisan Violence Against Women Act by a vote of 78-22.
"Too many women are victims of violence in their own homes and many don't know where to turn," said Stabenow. "The Violence Against Women Act gives women the support they need to protect themselves and their children. Preventing violence against women should never be a controversial or partisan issue. I am very proud of the strong bipartisan vote we achieved on this important legislation and I urge the House to follow our lead and reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act."
Senator Stabenow is one of 61 Senate cosponsors of the Violence Against Women Act, which was first authorized in 1994 with overwhelming bipartisan support. The law has provided lifesaving services such as transitional housing to survivors of domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The Violence Against Women Act has also made it easier for state and local law enforcement to investigate and prosecute the assailants of these violent crimes.