It provides new resources for Native American communities, restores protections for battered immigrant women, and for the first time extends a law to cover women abused by their boyfriends. VAWA was included in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act Conference Report, which passed in the House of Representatives last Friday by a vote of 371 to one. It will now go to President Clinton, who has long supported the bill and campaigned for its passage. The President has vowed to sign VAWA into law right away. The Violence Against Women Act of 2000 increases the funding provided for in the original Violence Against Women Act and also includes additional funding for invaluable services for battered women, but there is still more to be done.
Domestic violence is still prevalent in our country, in our state and in our community.
Last year, over 5500 people called the Support Network's 24 hour crisis line. This bill more than doubles the amount of money authorized in the original Violence Against Women Act to fund essential programs and services for battered women, including the National Domestic Violence Hotline. The new VAWA legislation also provides funding for state and local grant programs that address stalking and domestic violence, and to train child protective service workers and judges. The legislation also supports programs that address teen dating violence, domestic violence in the workplace, the enforcement of orders of protection, and that support children who witness domestic violence.