The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) provides essential protections and resources to survivors across the nation. Every reauthorization gives us the opportunity to strengthen these programs and protections, making survivors and their families safer. On July 26, 2018, Representative Sheila Jackson Lee introduced the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2018. This reauthorization bill contains critical improvements to VAWA, including housing provisions that will protect survivors and their children from eviction and discrimination as a result of the abuser’s actions. This reauthorization would also increase support for underserved communities, improve healthcare responses, and affirm our commitment to tribal sovereignty to prosecute non-Native offenders of sexual assault, child abuse, trafficking, and stalking on tribal land. 

To ensure that these essential provisions come to a vote in the House, we need many bipartisan co-sponsors. Please urge your Representative to sign on as a co-sponsor.