Boxer Praises House Passage of the Violence Against Women Act

Legislation Includes a Provision Based on Senator’s Bill to Combat Child Trafficking, Exploitation and Enslavement Across the Globe

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today praised the House of Representative’s passage of the Senate’s version of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) by a vote of 286-138. The Senate previously voted 78-22 to reauthorize the legislation.

“At long last, the House passed the Senate’s bipartisan Violence Against Women Act, which recognizes that all women deserve protections from violence,” Senator Boxer said. “With three women killed each day at the hands of abusive partners, it was critical that we reauthorized this important law.”

The legislation also includes a provision based on Senator Boxer’s Child Protection Compact Act, a bipartisan bill introduced in the 112th Congress that would give the State Department additional tools to combat child trafficking, exploitation and enslavement across the globe.

Senator Boxer said, “I am pleased that the Violence Against Women Act included my legislation to help the State Department work with other nations to protect the lives of vulnerable children around the world.”

The Child Protection Compact Act aims to facilitate a more targeted approach to child trafficking by authorizing the Secretary of State to enter into multi-year “Child Protection Compacts” with countries that are eager, but currently unable, to combat the high prevalence of trafficking within their borders. Countries that violate the requirements of the Compact could see their funding for anti-trafficking efforts terminated.

The bill now goes to the President for his signature.

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