CONGRESS: PROTECT DEMOCRACY AND REAUTHORIZE THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT
For the first time in our history, a new Congress – the 116th–convened during a government shutdown that the previous Congress—the 115th–failed to solve. The President is holding nine agencies hostage to his demand for a border wall, with no sign of negotiating. Today is Day 14 of this self-inflicted crisis.
As we write this, the House is on the verge of passing HR1 (a sweeping anti-corruption bill), ending to the shutdown, and establishing a Select Committee to create a “New Green Deal.” Unfortunately, none of this reauthorizes the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The VAWA expired when the last short-term continuing resolution expired on Dec. 7.
We must ask our MoCs to immediately reauthorize the VAWA. After its passage intimate partner violence decreased dramatically and broad public awareness of the issue increased. Without the VAWA lives are in danger and there might not have been a #MeToo movement. As this new Congress reopens the government and protects our elections, we need it to protect this vital law too – women’s rights are human rights.
ACTION ONE: CALL YOUR SENATORS
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR WYDEN AND MERKLEY:
(Leave a message if you can’t get through)
“My name is [Name]. I am a constituent and I and live in ZIP code [number]. I am calling to express my strong support for ending the shutdown with no money for the wall and for HR 1. But I am distressed that there is no reauthorization for the Violence Against Women Act. As efforts to end the shutdown advance in the Senate, I ask [NAME} to correct this gap in protections for women – immigrants as well as citizens – who are threatened by personal violence.”
CALL SENATOR MERKLEY
CALL SENATOR WYDEN
ACTION TWO: CALL YOUR HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES
Not sure who your U.S. Representative is? Find out here.
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR REPRESENTATIVES:
(Leave a message if you can’t get through)
“My name is [Name]. I am a constituent and I and live in ZIP code [number]. I am calling to express my strong support for ending the shutdown with no money for the wall and for HR 1. But I am distressed that there is no reauthorization for the Violence Against Women Act. As efforts to end the shutdown advance in the House, I ask [NAME} to correct this gap in protections for women – immigrants as well as citizens – who are threatened by personal violence.”
CALL Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)
Call Greg Walden (OR-02)
CALL BLUMENAUER (OR-03)
CALL PETER DEFAZIO (OR-04)
CALL Kurt Schrader (OR-05)
SOURCES:
VAWA’s expiration: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/the-violence-against-women-act-just-expired_us_5c24d8aae4b05c88b6fe046e
Public health research on the impact of VAWA: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3952594/