Planned Parenthood Applauds House Passage of Violence Against Women Act

WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) introduced by Reps. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX-18), Jerry Nadler (D-NY-10), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1). The bipartisan legislation will strengthen efforts to protect victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking for all survivors — regardless of age, race, gender identity, or sexual orientation. 

VAWA, which requires reauthorization every five years, was first passed in 1994 and has been funded by Congress for 25 years. However, the legislation has been dormant for nearly two years when the Senate, led by Sen. Mitch McConnell, refused to bring it to a vote in 2019 after it passed in the House. The 2021 reauthorization dedicates funding for innovative programs that will invest in violence prevention and help survivors navigate traumatic experiences and save lives.  

Statement from Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO, Planned Parenthood Federation of America

“We applaud the House for passing the Violence Against Women Act and proudly supporting all survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. This is an overdue, necessary step toward creating a safe society that  listens to, cares for, and empowers survivors. The Senate must immediately pass this life-saving bill.” 

Although the crimes targeted by VAWA have always been all too prevalent in our society, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this crisis. There has been an alarming increase of domestic violence incidents during the pandemic — in the U.S. and around the world. 

The bill restores sovereignty and autonomy to Native American tribes; looks to address social determinants of health such as housing and economic stability; and centers the experiences of Black, Latino, Indigenous and other people of color in culturally-specific training programs and strategies. While the legislation passed by the House today contains many critical improvements, it notably falls short of protecting all people by leaving out the needs of immigrant survivors. 

Planned Parenthood health centers proactively screen and refer for intimate partner violence in a safe setting, and are committed to being confidential and trusted health services providers for survivors. Across the country, Planned Parenthood staff and supporters work in their local communities on sex education that includes important conversations about healthy relationships. 

President Biden was an original sponsor of the VAWA during his time as a U.S. senator, and strongly supports this bill. But this legislation is far from the end of the work ahead to build a safer society with true bodily autonomy for all people. Planned Parenthood Federation of America, In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda, and a coalition of more than 100 progressive organizations, developed a detailed list of executive and agency actions on global and domestic issues. Planned Parenthood expects the Biden-Harris administration to continue addressing these proposed actions.

###

Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.