WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Lincoln Davis voted to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act through FY 2009. The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), enacted in 1994, is the cornerstone of an effort to end domestic violence and sexual assault.
“Curbing domestic violence has long been a priority of mine dating back to my service in the Tennessee Senate, when I introduced a measure to protect victims of abuse that was subsequently signed into law,” said Davis.

Since the inception of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), programs and services for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking have greatly improved. States have passed more than 660 laws to combat domestic violence and the National Domestic Violence Hotline has answered over one million calls.

Violence against women and children is a serious, widespread problem in America. Each year, 960,000 incidents of violence are reported against a current or former spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend. On average, more than three women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends in this country every day, and approximately one in five female high school students’ reports being physically and/or sexually abused by a dating partner. In many cases, violence against women and children devastates families and communities.

The historic measure increased options for victims and made it possible for many women to leave abusive relationships by providing cities and towns with the tools necessary to develop critical programs to assist and support at-risk women. The bill also improved the criminal justice system’s response to violence by training police and prosecutors to respond more effectively. Since VAWA was first passed, domestic violence has decreased by almost fifty percent and incidents of rape have decreased by sixty percent.

“It is critical that we continue assisting law enforcement in domestic violence cases and giving women the supportive services that they need. The Violence Against Women Reauthorization builds on past efforts and helps prevent violence by strengthening existing programs.”
The reauthorization provisions also help establish new rape crisis centers and provide funds to maintain and expand existing centers while also creating grants for organizations that collaborate with local agencies to reduce or eliminate domestic violence. With additional resources at the local centers and agencies, communities will be able to provide better support and security to victims of domestic violence.

Davis represents the Fourth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.