VAWA Rally Urges Congress to Reauthorize Bill

The American Bar Association, legislators and several national organizations rallied on Capitol Hill June 26, calling for a bipartisan compromise to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act.

The Save VAWA National Action Rally attendees urged the House of Representatives to reauthorize VAWA to reflect the comprehensive language presented in the Senate bill that passed earlier this year. The House version of the bill, which passed by a vote of 222-205, excluded provisions that would protect vulnerable populations, including Native American and immigrant women as well as the LGBT community.

The reauthorization of VAWA would ensure that legal and social services are available to survivors, and that law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, lawyers and advocates are well-trained and equipped with cutting-edge resources to effectively address these crimes in their own communities.

Featured speakers at the rally included Vivian Huelgo, chief counsel of the ABA Commission on Domestic & Sexual Violence; Sen. Patrick Leahy; Reps. Judy Biggert and Gwen Moore; women’s rights activist Lisa Jacobs; and singer Michael Bolton, who has long lobbied for the bill.

Speakers in order of appearance:
Lisa Jacobs, Legal Momentum
Vivian Huelgo, ABA Commission on Domestic & Sexual Violence
Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.
Rep. Judy Biggert, R-Ill.
Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Wis.
Michael Bolton