WASHINGTON, D.C. – Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco, and Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta today applauded the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). VAWA was reauthorized as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, which President Joe Biden signed into law this week.
“Domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking are serious violations of criminal law that demand our sustained attention and action,” said Attorney General Garland. “The Department of Justice welcomes the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act and will continue to use the resources at our disposal to prevent and respond to gender-based violence and provide critical services for survivors.”
“One of the many achievements of this bipartisan reauthorization of VAWA is recognizing expanded jurisdiction for American Indian and Alaska Native tribes to protect their communities from domestic and sexual violence, which I highlighted as a priority in my testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee last October,” said Deputy Attorney General Monaco. “It is fitting that this important legislation was passed during Women’s History Month, as it will help combat the epidemic levels of gender-based violence that stand in the way of equality in our society. We have made substantial progress since I worked on the original VAWA in Congress in the 1990s, but VAWA’s programs, protections, and new initiatives remain critical to address unmet needs in our communities.”
“VAWA’s reauthorization helps ensure all survivors can live safe and healthy lives, free from domestic violence, dating violence, sexual violence, and stalking,” said Associate Attorney General Gupta. “Preventing and ending violence creates a more equal and equitable world for women and girls, and people of all genders who experience harm. I look forward to working with the Office on Violence Against Women to implement and administer new programs and services that support underserved communities.”
In addition to recognizing expanded jurisdiction for American Indian and Alaska Native tribes, the VAWA reauthorization addresses numerous Department of Justice priorities, including:
- Reauthorizing until 2027 VAWA’s vitally important grant programs, which will allow communities to provide critical services to survivors, as well as the right tools and training to make sure that responses to these crimes are survivor-centered and trauma-informed.
- Increasing services and support for underserved populations, including culturally specific communities, LGBTQ survivors, individuals with disabilities, immigrant survivors, older adults, and victims in rural communities, among others.
- Closing gaps in federal sex crimes statutes and promoting accountability for law enforcement officers, by strengthening the ability to prosecute federal officers who sexually assault or abuse those in their custody, and by appropriately penalizing defendants who commit civil rights offenses involving sexual misconduct, which includes those who commit sexual assault while acting under color of law and those who commit sexual assault as part of a hate crime.
- Enhancing efforts to reduce homicides through enforcement of federal and state firearms laws, including by enacting the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Denial Notification Act to help state law enforcement investigate and prosecute unlawful firearms purchasers and amending the Gun Control Act to make clear that the firearm prohibitions apply to domestic violence offenders convicted under municipal ordinances.
- Improving access to justice for survivors by expanding grant funding for legal services and authorizing post-conviction legal assistance to survivors in matters arising out of their domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or sex trafficking victimization.
16 thoughts on “Justice Department applauds reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act”
If it was the 50’s 60’s there wouldn’t be the nit left leaning propaganda bullshit site. You know the one that dislikes republicans/conservatives, but will exploit them for personnel gain $$$$$$$.
I’d like the 7 seconds back I spent reading this ^^^
BIDEN!! You & Your Idiot Handler’s/Advisors that told YOU to Ignore Our Generals in Afghanistan for Your Photo OP had better be Praying. IF Zelenskyy somehow is Severely Wounded, or Worse KILLED by a Missile or Bomb Strike. YOU will be BLAMED by the Ukrainian’s, NATO Allies & a Majority of the American People for KILLING the Mig Transfer SO the Ukrainian Pilots could Secure their Own Airspace…..NOT PUTIN…DUMB ASS!
I tend to agree with you but there are reasons Biden did what he did. As it says in the article, Poland is why the planes are not going to Ukraine.
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/national-security-daily/2022/03/11/the-u-s-cant-stop-poland-from-giving-ukraine-its-migs-00016664
“Enhancing efforts to reduce homicides through enforcement of federal and state firearms laws, including by enacting the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Denial Notification Act”
You mean paying lip service to what is already in place. For you liberals/Democrats, in order to purchase a firearm, through a dealer, an individual MUST be checked through the NICS. If you are a felon or domestic abuser, NOPE not getting one. It has been this way for MANY YEARS.
Sure, and no one lies when they apply for a gun. Or they certainly don’t ask someone else to purchase it for them. Domestic abusers should not be allowed to own guns.
When they run NICS, it is by your driver’s license numbers, plus name and SS numbers. These are cross checked with the FBI database. Go ahead, lie on the form, won’t get you anywhere.
As for straw purchases, all they can do is what they do now. An illegal firearm purchase (straw purchase) is a federal crime. An illegal firearm purchase can bring a felony conviction sentence of ten years in jail and a fine of up to $250,000.
For you whining about domestic abusers, these are the laws before the Democrats put on their dog and pony show.
In 1996, Congress amended the Gun Control Act of 1968 by passing the Domestic Violence Offender Gun Ban.
This law is more commonly known as the Lautenberg Amendment,” named after the U.S. Senator who sponsored the bill in Congress.
Under 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(9), you are prohibited from owning, shipping, transporting, or possessing firearms or ammunition if you have been convicted in any court of a “misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.”
If you violate the Lautenberg Amendment, you face a lifetime ban on possessing or owning firearms.
What is the definition of domestic violence?
The definition of “misdemeanor crime of domestic violence” (MCDV) is found in 18 U.S.C. 921(a)(33).
To be considered MCDV, the crime must be:
A crime that is considered to be a misdemeanor under federal, state, or tribal law
A crime that has–as an element–the use or attempted use of physical force or the threatened use of a deadly weapon
The crime is committed against a current / former spouse, a parent or guardian, or against a close family member with whom the victim is living or has lived in the past.
What disqualifies you from owning a gun?
Under federal law, a person is generally prohibited from acquiring or possessing firearms if, among other things, they have been convicted of certain crimes or become subject to certain court orders related to domestic violence or a serious mental condition.
When did NICS checks start?
November 30, 1998
The National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) was mandated by the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993, and was launched by the FBI on November 30, 1998.
If you are still a DEMOCRAT you are either terribly misinformed or have an IQ of 60. I’m fiscally conservative and more liberal than the fascist lunatic democrats today who don’t even understand what being liberal is today. The ey only understand the religion of WOKE and canceling those they disagree with.
Ha ha ha
HUNTER BIDEN LAPTOP!!
Shhhhh it wasn’t Russia collusion
Just as TRUMP never colluded with RUSSIA
THAT WAS NASTY HILLARY!!
How about all those liberal SHIT HOLES San Francisco, Baltimore, Chicago and New York with there DEMOCRAT SOROS LED DA’s that are KILLING AND HITTING WOMEN in the head with a hammer NICE !!
As democrats support ruining woman’s sports by having men compete against them in sports !!
As well as all the women that are killed by illegal aliens that the democrats let in the country !!
This will piss off all the trumpettes
The only ones pissed off will be big mouth liberals
Ha ha. Trump is against this.