‘‘(iii) if a safe unit is not available, 
the covered housing provider shall provide 
to the tenant or program participant— 
‘‘(I) a written status report re-
garding the status of the emergency 
transfer request of the tenant or pro-
gram participant; and 
‘‘(II) information about National 
VAWA 
Victims 
Relocation 
Pool 
vouchers; and 
‘‘(iv) if the emergency transfer re-
quest has been denied due to reasons unre-
lated to the availability of a safe and suit-
able unit, the tenant or program partici-
pant may appeal the decision through the 
applicable grievance or hearing process of 
the covered housing provider; 
‘‘(D) with respect to a request for a Na-
tional VAWA Victims Relocation Pool vouch-
er— 
‘‘(i) the request may be made to the 
Secretary of Housing and Urban Develop-
ment by a tenant; program participant; 
resident of the unit who is an unreported 
member of the household because of do-
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mestic violence, dating violence, sexual as-
sault, dating violence, or stalking; a col-
laborative applicant of the local Continuum 
of Care or designee of the collaborative ap-
plicant; Emergency Solutions Grant recipi-
ent or subrecipient; a public housing agen-
cy; or the covered housing provider; and 
‘‘(ii) not later than 10 days after the 
date on which the Secretary of Housing 
and Urban Development receives a request 
for a National VAWA Victims Relocation 
Pool voucher and the selected relocation 
jurisdiction of the tenant or program par-
ticipant, the Secretary shall process the re-
quest and refer administration of the Na-
tional VAWA Victims Relocation Pool 
voucher to the appropriate public housing 
agency of the selected jurisdiction of the 
tenant; program participant; or resident of 
the unit who is an unreported member of 
the household because of domestic violence, 
dating violence, sexual assault, dating vio-
lence, or stalking; 
‘‘(E) allow a victim of domestic violence 
dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking to 
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temporarily relocate, while maintaining eligi-
bility for the covered housing program without 
the loss of their housing status, if there are no 
alternative comparable housing program units 
available, until an emergency transfer, a Na-
tional VAWA Victims Relocation Pool voucher, 
or an external referral resulting in comparable 
safe housing is obtained; 
‘‘(F) mandate that emergency transfers 
take priority over non-emergency transfers; 
‘‘(G) mandate that emergency transfers 
are not considered new applicants and take pri-
ority over existing external waiting lists for a 
covered housing program; 
‘‘(H) incorporate confidentiality measures 
to ensure that the appropriate agency and the 
covered housing provider do not disclose any in-
formation regarding a tenant, program partici-
pant, or resident who is victim of domestic vio-
lence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalk-
ing, including the location of a new dwelling 
unit to any person or entity without the time- 
limited written authorization of the tenant or 
program participant, and communication by a 
covered housing provider with a victim must be 
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in a form and manner that the victim deter-
mines to be safe; and 
‘‘(I) mandate that when a tenant or pro-
gram participant submits an emergency trans-
fer request to a covered housing provider, the 
covered housing provider shall provide contact 
information for— 
‘‘(i) local organizations offering assist-
ance to tenants and other housing pro-
viders who may have safe and available 
housing; or 
‘‘(ii) contact information for the re-
gional HUD office or applicable public 
housing agency. 
‘‘(5) DUTIES OF COLLABORATIVE APPLICANTS 
OF A LOCAL CONTINUUM OF CARE.—In addition to 
adopting the policies described in paragraph (4) in 
an emergency transfer policy, the collaborative appli-
cant of each local Continuum of Care, or a designee 
of the collaborative applicant, shall— 
‘‘(A) coordinate and facilitate emergency 
transfers and external referrals across projects 
funded under the Continuum of Care; 
‘‘(B) prioritize an external referral across 
projects funded under the Continuum of Care 
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103 
for the next available safe housing option for 
which a tenant or program participant may be 
eligible; 
‘‘(C) coordinate external referrals with the 
collaborative applicant of the local Continuum 
of Care, or designee of the collaborative appli-
cant, in other jurisdictions in cases where a ten-
ant or program participant requests an out-of- 
jurisdiction transfer; 
‘‘(D) ensure that a tenant or program par-
ticipant is not required to be reassessed and re-
tains chronically homeless status, if applicable, 
through the local Continuum of Care intake 
process when seeking an emergency transfer or 
external referral placement; and 
‘‘(E) ensure costs associated with tem-
porary relocations described in paragraph (4) 
are considered eligible costs of supportive serv-
ices under the Continuum of Care program. 
‘‘(6) REGIONAL OFFICES.—Each HUD regional 
office shall— 
‘‘(A) in collaboration with public housing 
agencies and the entities described in paragraph 
(2), develop and implement a regional emer-
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104 
gency transfer and external referral plan, which 
shall— 
‘‘(i) set forth how covered housing 
providers shall coordinate external referrals 
with the HUD regional office; 
‘‘(ii) be submitted to the Violence 
Against Women Director described in sec-
tion 41413 and made publicly available; 
and 
‘‘(iii) include any additional policies, 
priorities, and strategies set by the entities 
described in paragraph (5); and 
‘‘(B) in consultation with the Violence 
Against Women Director described in section 
41413, facilitate external referral requests for 
tenants or program participants who are vic-
tims of domestic violence, dating violence, sex-
ual assault, or stalking if the tenant or program 
participant cannot obtain an emergency trans-
fer or a National VAWA Victims Relocation 
Pool voucher. 
‘‘(7) COVERED
HOUSING
PROVIDERS.—Each 
covered housing provider shall develop and imple-
ment an emergency transfer and external referral 
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plan consistent with the requirements in paragraph 
(4) or (5).’’; 
(6) by amending subsection (f) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(f) POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR EMERGENCY 
TRANSFER AND NATIONAL VAWA VICTIMS RELOCATION 
POOL VOUCHERS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days 
after the date of enactment of the Violence Against 
Women Reauthorization Act of 2021, the Secretary 
of Housing and Urban Development shall establish 
policies and procedures under which a tenant, pro-
gram participant, or resident of a unit who is an un-
reported member of the household because of domes-
tic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, dating 
violence, or stalking may receive, under subsection 
(e), subject to the availability of funds, a National 
VAWA Victims Relocation Pool voucher. 
‘‘(2) APPROPRIATE AGENCIES.—Not later than 
180 days after the date of enactment of the Violence 
Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2021, the 
head of each appropriate agency shall establish the 
policies required under subsection (e) with respect to 
emergency transfers and external referrals. Each ap-
propriate agency shall also establish agency-specific 
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106 
policies and procedures in accordance with the Sec-
retary of Housing and Urban Development’s Na-
tional VAWA Victims Relocation Pool vouchers poli-
cies and procedures.’’; 
(7) by redesignating subsection (g) as sub-
section (h); 
(8) by inserting after subsection (f) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(g) TRAINING AND REFERRALS.— 
‘‘(1) TRAINING FOR STAFF OF COVERED HOUS-
ING PROGRAMS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary of 
Housing and Urban Development, in partner-
ship with domestic and sexual violence experts, 
shall develop mandatory in-person or electronic 
training for staff of covered housing providers 
to provide a basic understanding of domestic vi-
olence, dating violence, sexual assault, and 
stalking, and to facilitate implementation of 
this section. 
‘‘(B) APPROPRIATE STAFF.—Each covered 
housing provider shall identify— 
‘‘(i) appropriate staff to attend the 
basic understanding training described in 
subparagraph (A) periodically; and 
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107 
‘‘(ii) appropriate staff engaged in ten-
ant, program participant, or resident serv-
ices to attend both the basic understanding 
training and the implementation training 
described in subparagraph (A) as nec-
essary. 
‘‘(2) REFERRALS.—The appropriate agency 
with respect to each covered housing program and 
the local Continuum of Care shall supply all appro-
priate staff of the covered housing providers with a 
referral listing of public contact information for all 
domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, 
and stalking service providers offering services in its 
coverage area. 
‘‘(3) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this subsection such sums as may be necessary for 
each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.’’; and 
(9) by inserting after subsection (h), as so re-
designated, the following: 
‘‘(i) RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion shall be construed— 
‘‘(1) to limit any right, remedy, or procedure 
otherwise available to enforce the Violence Against 
Women Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–162; 119 
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108 
Stat. 2960) and subsequent amendments prior to 
the date of enactment of the Violence Against 
Women Reauthorization Act of 2021; or 
‘‘(2) to supersede any provision of any Federal, 
State, or local law that provides greater protection 
than this section for victims of domestic violence, 
dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.’’. 
(b) NATIONAL VAWA VICTIMS RELOCATION POOL 
VOUCHERS.—Section 8(o) of the United States Housing 
Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)) is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘(21) NATIONAL
VAWA
VICTIMS
RELOCATION 
POOL VOUCHERS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
set aside, from amounts made available for 
rental 
assistance 
under 
this 
subsection, 
amounts for use only for providing such assist-
ance for the creation of a National VAWA Vic-
tims Relocation Pool, which shall provide rental 
assistance on behalf of tenants, program par-
ticipants, or residents who are victims of do-
mestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, 
and stalking eligible for assistance under sec-
tion 41411(e) of the Violence Against Women 
Act of 1994 (34 U.S.C. 12491(e)). 
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109 
‘‘(B) TERMINATION OF VOUCHERS UPON 
TURNOVER.—A public housing agency shall not 
reissue assistance that is made available from 
appropriated funds under this subsection for a 
tenant, program participant, or resident when 
the assistance for the tenant, program partici-
pant, or resident is lawfully terminated, unless 
specifically authorized by the Secretary. 
‘‘(C) 
AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIA-
TIONS.—Beginning in fiscal year 2022 and each 
fiscal year thereafter, there are authorized to be 
appropriated $20,000,000 to provide vouchers 
for rental assistance under this paragraph.’’. 
SEC. 602. ENSURING COMPLIANCE AND IMPLEMENTATION; 
PROHIBITING RETALIATION AGAINST VIC-
TIMS. 
Chapter 2 of subtitle N of title IV of the Violence 
Against Women Act of 1994 (34 U.S.C. 12491 et seq.) 
is amended by inserting after section 41411 the following: 
‘‘SEC. 41412. COMPLIANCE REVIEWS. 
‘‘(a) REGULAR COMPLIANCE REVIEWS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Each appropriate agency 
shall establish a process by which to review compli-
ance with the requirements of this subtitle, which 
shall— 
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110 
‘‘(A) in consultation with the Violence 
Against Women Director described in section 
41413 and any other relevant officials of the 
appropriate agency, be incorporated into other 
existing compliance review processes of the ap-
propriate agency; and 
‘‘(B) examine— 
‘‘(i) covered housing provider compli-
ance with requirements prohibiting the de-
nial of assistance, tenancy, or occupancy 
rights on the basis of domestic violence, 
dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking; 
‘‘(ii) covered housing provider compli-
ance with confidentiality provisions set 
forth in section 41411(c)(4); 
‘‘(iii) covered housing provider compli-
ance with the notification requirements set 
forth in section 41411(d)(2); 
‘‘(iv) covered housing provider compli-
ance with accepting documentation set 
forth in section 41411(c); 
‘‘(v) covered housing provider compli-
ance with emergency transfer, external re-
ferral, and National VAWA Victims Relo-
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111 
cation Pool Voucher requirements set forth 
in section 41411(e); and 
‘‘(vi) covered housing provider compli-
ance with the prohibition on retaliation set 
forth in section 41414. 
‘‘(2) FREQUENCY.—Each appropriate agency 
shall conduct the review described in paragraph (1) 
on a regular basis, as determined by the appropriate 
agency. 
‘‘(b) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of the Violence Against Women Reau-
thorization Act of 2021, each appropriate agency shall 
issue regulations to implement subsection (a), which 
shall— 
‘‘(1) define standards of compliance for covered 
housing providers; 
‘‘(2) include detailed reporting requirements, in-
cluding the number of emergency transfers, external 
referrals, and National VAWA Victims Relocation 
Pool vouchers requested and granted, as well as the 
length of time needed to process emergency trans-
fers, National VAWA Victims Relocation Pool 
vouchers, and external referrals; and 
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‘‘(3) include standards for corrective action 
plans where a covered housing provider has failed to 
meet compliance standards. 
‘‘(c) PUBLIC DISCLOSURE.—Each appropriate agen-
cy shall ensure that an agency-level assessment of the in-
formation collected during the compliance review process 
completed pursuant to this subsection— 
‘‘(1) includes an evaluation of each topic identi-
fied in subsection (a); and 
‘‘(2) is made publicly available. 
‘‘SEC. 41413. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DE-
VELOPMENT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN DI-
RECTOR. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There shall be, within the 
Office of the Secretary of the Department of Housing and 
Urban Development, a Violence Against Women Director 
(in this section referred to as the ‘Director’). 
‘‘(b) DUTIES.—The Director shall— 
‘‘(1) support implementation of the provisions 
of this subtitle; 
‘‘(2) coordinate development of Federal regula-
tions, policy, protocols, and guidelines on matters re-
lating to the implementation of this subtitle, at each 
agency administering a covered housing program; 
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‘‘(3) advise and coordinate with designated offi-
cials within the United States Interagency Council 
on Homelessness, the Department of Housing and 
Urban Development, the Department of the Treas-
ury, the Department of Agriculture, the Department 
of Health and Human Services, the Department of 
Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Justice 
concerning legislation, implementation, and other 
issues relating to or affecting the housing provisions 
under this subtitle; 
‘‘(4) provide technical assistance, coordination, 
and support to each appropriate agency regarding 
advancing housing protections and access to housing 
for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sex-
ual assault, and stalking, including compliance with 
this subtitle; 
‘‘(5) ensure that adequate technical assistance 
is made available to covered housing providers re-
garding implementation of this subtitle, as well as 
other issues related to advancing housing protections 
for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sex-
ual assault, and stalking, including compliance with 
this subtitle; 
‘‘(6) act as a liaison with the judicial branches 
of Federal, State, and local governments on matters 
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relating to the housing needs of victims of domestic 
violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalk-
ing; 
‘‘(7) implement a quality control system and a 
corrective action plan system for those covered hous-
ing providers that fail to comply with this subtitle, 
wherein— 
‘‘(A) covered housing providers completing 
corrective action plans shall be required to con-
sult with national, State, or local programs fo-
cused on victims of domestic violence, dating vi-
olence, sexual assault, or stalking; and 
‘‘(B) the corrective action plans shall in-
clude provisions requiring covered housing pro-
viders to review and develop appropriate no-
tices, procedures, and staff training to improve 
compliance with this subtitle, in consultation 
with national, State, or local programs focused 
on victims described in subparagraph (A); 
‘‘(8) establish a formal reporting process to re-
ceive individual complaints concerning noncompli-
ance with this subtitle; 
‘‘(9) coordinate the development of interagency 
guidelines to improve the availability of centralized 
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information concerning available dwelling units for 
use in facilitating the emergency transfer process; 
‘‘(10) coordinate the process for tracking of re-
quests, notice, and approval of National VAWA Vic-
tims Relocation Pool vouchers, and further imple-
ment, as necessary, any policies or procedures relat-
ing to the National VAWA Victims Relocation Pool 
vouchers; 
‘‘(11) work with HUD regional offices to de-
velop a mechanism to implement regional external 
referral plans and officials at each appropriate agen-
cy relating to the development of Federal regula-
tions, policy, protocols, and guidelines regarding uni-
form timeframes for the completion of emergency 
transfers, National VAWA Victims Relocation Pool 
vouchers, and external referrals; 
‘‘(12) coordinate with each appropriate agency 
to ensure that standardized documents relating to 
the implementation of this title are translated into 
and made available in multiple languages, are acces-
sible to persons with disabilities, and made acces-
sible to covered housing providers within a reason-
able time upon adoption of the documents by the ap-
propriate agency; 
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‘‘(13) ensure that the documents described in 
paragraph (11), including guidance and notices to 
victims, are distributed in commonly encountered 
languages by covered housing providers consistent 
with title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 
U.S.C. 2000d et seq.) and any guidance issued by 
the appropriate agencies in accordance with Execu-
tive Order 13166 (42 U.S.C. 2000d–1 note; relating 
to access to services for persons with limited English 
proficiency); and 
‘‘(14) in consultation with each appropriate 
agency, identify existing compliance review processes 
that could incorporate the compliance reviews re-
quired under section 41412(a). 
‘‘(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 
2022 through 2026. 
‘‘SEC. 41414. PROHIBITION ON RETALIATION. 
‘‘(a) NONDISCRIMINATION REQUIREMENT.—No cov-
ered housing provider shall discriminate against any per-
son because that person has opposed any act or practice 
made unlawful by this subtitle, or because that individual 
testified, assisted, or participated in any matter related 
to this subtitle. 
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‘‘(b) PROHIBITION ON COERCION.—No covered hous-
ing provider shall coerce, intimidate, threaten, or interfere 
with, or retaliate against, any person in the exercise or 
enjoyment of, or on account of the person having exercised 
or enjoyed, or on account of the person having aided or 
encouraged any other individual in the exercise or enjoy-
ment of, any rights or protections under this subtitle, in-
cluding— 
‘‘(1) intimidating or threatening any person be-
cause that person is assisting or encouraging an in-
dividual entitled to claim the rights or protections 
under this subtitle; and 
‘‘(2) retaliating against any person because that 
person has participated in any investigation or ac-
tion to enforce this subtitle. 
‘‘(c) ENFORCEMENT
AUTHORITY
OF
THE
SEC-
RETARY.—The authority of the Secretary of Housing and 
Urban Development and the Office for Fair Housing and 
Equal Opportunity to enforce this section shall be the 
same as the Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 3610 et seq.).’’. 
SEC. 603. PROTECTING THE RIGHT TO REPORT CRIME 
FROM ONE’S HOME. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 2 of subtitle N of title 
IV of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (34 U.S.C. 
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118 
12491 et seq.), as amended by this Act, is further amend-
ed by inserting after section 41414 the following: 
‘‘SEC. 41415. RIGHT TO REPORT CRIME AND EMERGENCIES 
FROM ONE’S HOME. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘covered 
governmental entity’ means any municipal, county, or 
State government that receives funding under section 106 
of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 
(42 U.S.C. 5306). 
‘‘(b) RIGHT TO REPORT.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Landlords, homeowners, 
residents, occupants, and guests of, and applicants 
for, housing— 
‘‘(A) shall have the right to seek law en-
forcement or emergency assistance on their own 
behalf or on behalf of another person in need 
of assistance; and 
‘‘(B) shall not be penalized based on their 
requests for assistance or based on criminal ac-
tivity of which they are a victim or otherwise 
not at fault under statutes, ordinances, regula-
tions, or policies adopted or enforced by covered 
governmental entities. 
‘‘(2) PROHIBITED PENALTIES.—Penalties that 
are prohibited under paragraph (1) include— 
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119 
‘‘(A) actual or threatened assessment of 
penalties, fees, or fines; 
‘‘(B) actual or threatened eviction; 
‘‘(C) actual or threatened refusal to rent 
or renew tenancy; 
‘‘(D) actual or threatened refusal to issue 
an occupancy permit or landlord permit; and 
‘‘(E) actual or threatened closure of the 
property, or designation of the property as a 
nuisance or a similarly negative designation. 
‘‘(c) REPORTING.—Consistent with the process de-
scribed in section 104(b) of the Housing and Community 
Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5304(b)), covered 
governmental entities shall— 
‘‘(1) report any of their laws or policies, or, as 
applicable, the laws or policies adopted by sub-
grantees, that impose penalties on landlords, home-
owners, residents, occupants, guests, or housing ap-
plicants based on requests for law enforcement or 
emergency assistance or based on criminal activity 
that occurred at a property; and 
‘‘(2) certify that they are in compliance with 
the protections under this subtitle or describe the 
steps the covered governmental entities will take 
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within 180 days to come into compliance, or to en-
sure compliance among subgrantees. 
‘‘(d) OVERSIGHT.—Oversight and accountability 
mechanisms provided for under title VIII of the Civil 
Rights Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.) shall be avail-
able to address violations of this section. 
‘‘(e) SUBGRANTEES.—For those covered govern-
mental entities that distribute funds to subgrantees, com-
pliance with subsection (c)(1) includes inquiring about the 
existence of laws and policies adopted by subgrantees that 
impose penalties on landlords, homeowners, residents, oc-
cupants, guests, or housing applicants based on requests 
for law enforcement or emergency assistance or based on 
criminal activity that occurred at a property.’’. 
(b) SUPPORTING EFFECTIVE CRIME REDUCTION 
METHODS.— 
(1) ADDITIONAL AUTHORIZED USE OF BYRNE- 
JAG FUNDS.—Section 501(a)(1) of subpart 1 of part 
E of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe 
Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10152(a)(1)) is 
amended by adding after subparagraph (H) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(I) Programs for the development and im-
plementation of methods of reducing crime in 
communities, to supplant punitive programs or 
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policies. For purposes of this subparagraph, a 
punitive program or policy is a program or pol-
icy that— 
‘‘(i) imposes a penalty described in 
section 
41415(b)(2) 
of 
the 
Violence 
Against Women Act of 1994 on the basis 
of a request for law enforcement or emer-
gency assistance; or 
‘‘(ii) imposes a penalty described in 
section 
41415(b)(2) 
of 
the 
Violence 
Against Women Act of 1994 on a landlord, 
homeowner, tenant, program participant, 
resident, occupant, or guest because of 
criminal activity at the property, including 
domestic violence dating violence, sexual 
assault, and stalking, where the landlord, 
homeowner, tenant, program participant, 
resident, occupant, or guest was a victim 
of such criminal activity.’’. 
(2) ADDITIONAL
AUTHORIZED
USE
OF
COPS 
FUNDS.—Section 1701(b) of part Q of title I of the 
Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 
1968 (34 U.S.C. 10381(b)) is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (22), by striking ‘‘and’’ 
after the semicolon; 
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