Congresswoman Lee Marks 20th Anniversary of Violence Against Women’s Act
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee issued the following statement marking the 20th anniversary of the Violence Against Women’s Act, which was signed into law this week in 1994 by President Bill Clinton.
“In the twenty years since the Violence Against Women’s Act (VAWA) became law, we have seen the culture and attitudes surrounding domestic violence change. Violence and abuse have no place in our society.
As a social worker, I have seen firsthand the critical services provided for survivors, law enforcement and social workers by VAWA.
In the last twenty years, annual domestic violence rates have declined by 64 percent. Thanks to VAWA, law enforcement officials have more evidence and funding to prosecute abusers and provide justice to survivors.
VAWA has worked and is still working today but the effort to end domestic violence is not over.
I am proud of all the progress our country has made since I first authored California’s Violence Against Women’s Act.
However, too many still live in fear of violence and abuse.
As someone who understands domestic violence on a deeply personal level – I know that even one assault is too many.
As a member of the Appropriations Committee subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies, I will continue to fight for federal funding to end domestic violence and provide services to survivors.
As we mark twenty years of the Violence Against Women Act, let us recommit to ending domestic violence once and for all.”
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Congresswoman Lee is a member of the Appropriations and Budget Committees, the Steering and Policy Committee, is a Senior Democratic Whip, former chair of both the Congressional Black Caucus and Progressive Caucus. She serves as chair of the newly formed Whip’s Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity.