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NEWS RELEASE

DECEMBER 1, 2005 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN LAWYERS

NAWL SUPPORTS REAUTHORIZATION OF THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT

On January 5, 2006, President Bush signed into law the Violence Against Women Act of 2005 (VAWA 2005). The National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL) commends President Bush and Congress for reauthorizing VAWA. Ground-breaking when first passed in 1994, the VAWA funded women’s shelters and law enforcement training and also focused on other crucial aspects of efforts to combat domestic violence and sexual assault. It provided funds to treat children affected by violence and enhance health care for rape victims. It included provisions to hold repeat offenders and high-tech stalkers accountable and ease housing problems for battered women.

VAWA 2005 continues several important and successful programs initiated by VAWA in 1994, including the STOP (Services and Training for Officers and Prosecutors) grants program, which works to ensure that “victims are safer, better supported by their communities, and treated more uniformly and sensitively by first-response workers.” VAWA 2005 also provides grants to be used to develop programs to encourage arrest and enforce protection orders, which have helped to increase domestic violence prosecutions and protect women and their families. In order to ensure that domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking victims have adequate legal representation, VAWA 2005 also improves programs that provide legal assistance to victims of domestic violence.

On July 1, 2005, the Legislation Committee of NAWL, chaired by Elizabeth Bransdorfer, wrote to the reauthorization bill’s chief sponsor and supporter, Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE), stating NAWL’s support for the reauthorization of VAWA. In arguing for reauthorization of VAWA, NAWL emphasized its support of VAWA 2005’s provisions to “provide funding for direct service programs for all victims while addressing the unique needs of underserved communities such as disabled, elderly, racial and ethnic populations, along with those living in rural communities.”

The legislation was the result of a bipartisan effort of Senator Biden, and co-sponsors Senators Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT).

The National Association of Women Lawyers is the leading national voluntary organization in the United States devoted to the interests of women lawyers and women's rights. Founded over 100 years ago, NAWL has members in all 50 states and engages in a variety of national and regional programs and activities to advance its mission.