John -- As we come to the end of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, I want to reflect on the policies that fail survivors and what a brand new congress could do to change that.

First, we have to realize that domestic violence is far more common than most people realize.

I know, because it happened to me.

If you are a survivor of domestic or intimate partner violence, you should know that you are not alone. If you are not a survivor, you know someone who is -- whether you realize it or not.

Advocacy groups estimate that 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner -- while as many as 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men have experienced severe violence. For Black and Indigenous women, those numbers are even higher.

Leaving an abuser is incredibly difficult. Survivors need safe shelter, security, financial support, food, clothing, and basic necessities. They need legal advice and support navigating the court system. They need counseling and medical care.

If we had Medicare for All, they could get all the medical care and counseling they need.

If we guaranteed a living wage and equal pay for equal work, women wouldn’t have to worry about how to support their families when leaving an abuser.

If we guaranteed housing as a human right, we wouldn’t have to worry about shelters running out of room or splitting families apart.

If we had free college, they could pursue an education to help them start their lives over.

And if we reinstate the Violence Against Women Act (which was allowed to lapse in 2019) with permanent funding, we could bolster critical resources and tailor services to the unique needs of this community.

Brand New Congress is fighting for all of these policies. You can support our work and help us get more progressives elected to get this done.

The VAWA Reauthorization bill introduced this year is a much-needed update to this decades-old law. It expands services and protections for Indigenous communities and LGBTQIA survivors of domestic violence. But that reauthorization is yet another bill stuck in the U.S. Senate -- deadlocked by the Jim Crow filibuster.

We can change that by electing three new progressive Senators next year -- Charles Booker, Morgan Harper, and Malcolmn Kenyatta are all running for seats currently held by Republicans.

But we need your support to make that happen. Can you pitch in $100, $50, or even $25 today to help us elect our 22 candidates?

Our victory in 2022 will bring hope to survivors everywhere.

Adrienne Bell
Executive Director
Brand New Congress