Washington, D.C. — The House of Representatives today passed legislation that re-authorizes HR 1248, The Violence Against Women’s Act of 1994 (VAWA) for an additional five years. Heralded as legislation that provides women an “opportunity to escape abusers and rebuild their lives,” Congressman Chris Smith, said that re-authorization of this legislation has a direct, positive impact on women’s health programs in New Jersey. HR 1248, authored by Representative Connie Morella (R-MD), passed the House with strong support.

“Each year, over 1.5 million women are victims of domestic violence nationwide, and a woman is raped every 1.3 minutes, including 1,412 reported rapes in New Jersey alone in 1999.  The Violence Against Women’s Act gives these women an opportunity to escape abusers and rebuild their lives,” said Smith. “This legislation will provide over $3 billion over the next five years to strengthen enforcement programs and allow battered women and children access to more programs offering housing alternatives and legal and counseling assistance,” added Smith. 

“Since the Violence Against Women’s Act was passed in 1994, we have been able to expand the services of many non-profit groups who reach out and help the victims in New Jersey, including the New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault (NJCASA) and Mondavi, a group that assists Asian and Indian victims of domestic violence,” said Smith, a co-sponsor of the legislation. “The program also funds the New Jersey Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board, a legal services clinic at Rutgers University for victims, specialized Domestic Violence units in three county prosecutors offices and the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners program in three counties,” added Smith.  

Smith emphasized the need for increases in program funding and stressed that the programs put in place in 1994 are indeed working. “The Senate Judiciary Committee reports that more than 300,000 women and children per year have been provided shelter space through grants authorized under VAWA, and the Justice Department estimates that violence against women has decreased by 21 percent since the law was passed.” said Smith.

Specifically, HR 1248 authorizes $3 billion dollars over the next five years to fund various programs that support state and local efforts to shelter battered women, train local police and court officials how to handle domestic abuse cases, and provide a hotline and counseling services to battered women. In addition to re-authorizing existing programs, the bill also authorizes several new ones,  including $10 million in grants to disabled victims of gender motivated crimes and requirements that battered women shelters comply with the Americans with Disabilities Acts.

Smith said the legislation also includes $200,000 for treating sexually abused patients as well as establishing procedures for handling of evidence in rape cases, provisions ensuring that Legal Services Corporation grantees can help victims of sexual abuse obtain assistance in civil cases against their attackers; and funds to provide transitional housing assistance to women and their children when fleeing from domestic abuse. 

“I voted for the original VAWA legislation when it was introduced in 1994 because it offered much needed help and provided a new start for battered and abused women and children,” said Smith. “Six years later, we now see how instrumental these programs have been in the lives of women. These funding increases and additional programs will enhance the already successful programs that have played such a big role in providing women with a new start,” added Smith.