BISHOP SUPPORTS SURVIVORS OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, H.R. 1620:

"The Violence Against Women Act has been critical in reducing rates of domestic violence and sexual assault against women in America. We have learned so much since 1994 about how to support survivors of this kind of violence and hold perpetrators accountable. Unfortunately, violence against women is still all too common but the updated version we passed today will be instrumental in reducing it further. I am proud to support this legislation which will benefit all survivors of domestic and sexual violence."

The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act will:

• Make investments in programs to prevent rape and sexual assault.
• Improve services for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking through grant programs and targeted funding.
• Improve the criminal justice response to gender-based violence, particularly domestic violence, to hold abusers accountable and prevent homicide.
• Specifically target resources to Native American and Alaska Native communities who experience some of the highest rates of gender-based violence.
• Improve housing access for survivors so they can get out of unsafe environments more easily.
• Protect survivors in the workplace from discrimination.
• Provide tools, resources, and training for workplaces on preventing and responding to this violence.
• Improve the health care system's response to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
• Support communities of color by ensuring culturally specific organizations receive access to grants and are included in all aspects of gender-based violence prevention and survivor support.
• Improve conditions for women and mothers in federal custody.
• Protect the Office on Violence Against Women.
• Update firearm statutes regarding domestic violence to include dating violence and stalking to help prevent intimate partner and stalking homicides.