DeLauro Urges House Action on Violence Against Women Act

Should Not Suffer Same Fate as Last Year's Bill

WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) releasedthe following statement today urging the House of Representatives to pass theViolence Against Women Act. The legislation passed the Senate today 78 to 22.DeLauro is a cosponsor of a companion bill in the House and a longtimesupporter for ensuring all women have the ability to be safe and secure intheir daily lives.

"When one out of four women will experience domesticviolence in their lifetimes, it is unconscionable that we have let the ViolenceAgainst Women Act lapse. Since the Act first passed in 1994, it has changed thelandscape for American women. Domestic violence has dropped by over 50 percent.The bipartisan Senate bill modernizes the Act for our times, consolidatesprograms, and takes additional steps to reach victims of domestic violence.

"I hope the Republican House Majority does not play the samepartisan games as last year and risk the lives of women. Passing the ViolenceAgainst Women Act ensures the continuation of essential protections that havemade a difference for so many women. I urge Speaker Boehner to bring the Senatebill to the floor for a vote expeditiously so that women across the countrywill have the same protections their sisters, aunts and mothers had since theoriginal passage of this landmark bill."