Herb Kohl: “I am proud to rise today in support of the bipartisan Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act. I cosponsored the…”

“I am proud to rise today in support of the bipartisan Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act. I cosponsored the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) when it was originally enacted in 1994, and have cosponsored every reauthorization since then. The Violence Against Women Act continues to be as important today as it was in 1994. The programs VAWA supports have gone a long way to help stop batterers in their tracks and provide victims with the support they need to recover and rebuild their lives. This reauthorizing legislation builds upon proven prevention and support strategies and includes new provisions to address the changing and still unmet needs of victims. VAWA has been a success story over the past 18 years because it encourages communities to more effectively and efficiently respond to domestic violence. Working together, law enforcement, judges, domestic violence shelters, victim advocates, healthcare providers, and faith- based advocates are able to better prosecute abusers and protect and aid the women, men and children who find themselves in dangerous and potentially life threatening domestic relationships. Programs authorized by VAWA also provide victims with critical services, including transitional housing and legal assistance, and address the unique issues faced by elderly, rural, and disabled victims. No one should have to choose between staying in a harmful relationship and losing their home or job.…”