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March 17, 2022
Dear Friend,
We just took an important step toward making North Texas communities safer. Last week, I helped pass the bipartisan Violence Against Women Act reauthorization to reduce domestic violence, support survivors and bring offenders to justice. Sadly, more than one-third of Texas women have experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetime. The reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act will work to reduce that number and help protect all Americans from violence and abuse, and help victims get access to essential services and to justice.
I was raised by a single mother and as a husband and father, this issue is deeply personal to me. Since I first came to Congress, I have been working to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act. I am glad that both parties were able to come together to pass this long overdue reauthorization to make sure that these life-saving programs and legal protections remain in place.
The 2022 reauthorization of VAWA strengthens this landmark law, including by:
- Reauthorizing all current VAWA grant programs until 2027 and, in many cases, increasing funding levels.
- Increasing services and support for survivors from underserved and marginalized communities—including for LGBTQ+ survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking.
- Creating a new National Resource Center on Cybercrimes Against Individuals; and supporting local government efforts to prevent and prosecute cybercrimes, including cyberstalking and the nonconsensual distribution of intimate images.
- Improving prevention and response to sexual violence, including through increased support for the Rape Prevention and Education Program and Sexual Assault Services Program.
- Strengthening the practices by law enforcement in responding to gender-based violence, including by promoting the use of trauma-informed, victim-centered training and improving homicide reduction initiatives.
- Improving the healthcare system’s response to domestic violence and sexual assault, including through enhanced training for sexual assault forensic examiners.
- Updating youth programs to reduce dating violence, help children who have been exposed to domestic violence, and engage men in preventing violence.
- Enacting the National Instant Criminal Background Check System Denial Notification Act to help state law enforcement investigate and prosecute cases against individuals legally prohibited from purchasing firearms who try to do so.
In the nearly three decades since the Violence Against Women Act’s passage, we have made incredible progress in increasing awareness, supporting survivors and bringing offenders to justice thanks the vital programs it established. I know there is still a lot of work to do, but I am glad that Congress came together to invest in our communities, save lives, protect children and families and crack down on crime. I will continue to work to make our North Texas communities safer.
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, please give my office a call at (972) 972-7949. We can connect you with resources.
Sincerely,
Colin Allred
Member of Congress
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