Help Us Push Senate to Vote on VAWA
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA) of 2019 (H.R. 1585) one year ago today
Help us push the Senate to vote today from 10a pst to 12p pst! The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA) of 2019 (H.R. 1585) one year ago today. The vote was bipartisan sending a clear message to the U.S. Senate to re-authorize the Violence Against Women Act. This bill is lifesaving legislation that maintains safety protections important to all women, particularly women of color and other marginalized communities. Astoundingly, the U.S. Senate has not taken action. Even with a bipartisan bill, they struggle to vote it through. It's during these uncertain times that the protections afforded under VAWA are more important than ever and we need your help us push Senate to vote.
Survivors need this legislation that enhances housing protections, prevent intimate partner homicides, and provide economic security assistance. We owe it to survivors to push the Senate to vote. It's maddening they are letting this sit. There is no excuse and leaders need to be held accountable to do their job.
The Senate has failed to act on VAWA legislation critical to survivors.
365 days later and the Senate has failed to move S. 2843 through the legislative process and demonstrate support for survivors and the services they need. It’s time to act!
As the Coronavirus sweeps our nation putting unimaginable stress on communities, survivors and individuals affected by domestic violence and sexual assault have an added level of day to day survival. These stories are from our YWCA sisters in Montana and Washington:
"We are also the Domestic Violence shelter in our community and people will literally die if we were to close. I am so exhausted as the CEO trying to keep our shelter open and programs running. WA State was the epicenter and we have been hit hard. We need help because most businesses have shut down and schools are closed through the end of April so family stressors are high and as a result domestic violence will increase at a time we are barely able to keep our doors open. We are the domestic violence agency for our community. We won’t make it without help.” - YWCA Pierce County (Washington)
“We took two women to the hospital on Saturday to be tested. They tested negative and we took them back to the shelter after filling prescriptions. We immediately got called back to the ER to see a terribly beaten woman that needs to come to our shelter to use the last available bed. The doctor said we then had 6 positively documented case Montana, we are seeing much more stress, crises, and violence.” - YWCA Great Falls (Montana)
Take action with YWCA-MC and YWCA USA during our national VAWA Day of Action this Tuesday, April 7, 2020 from 1:00 - 3:00pm ET. We’ll storm social media with a unified call to action in support of reauthorizing VAWA (S. 2843) ---and we need your voice!
"Survivors have waited long enough for the Senate to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (S. 2843). Now during a global pandemic, they need the certainty that VAWA’s protections are secured. It’s time to act."
Alejandra Y. Castillo
Chief Executive Officer, YWCA USA
