{"bills":[{"photos":{"featured":"https://assets.causes.com/bill/photo/hr1585-116/featured_violence-against-women-reauthorization-act-of-2019-1554444091.jpg","featured_large":"https://assets.causes.com/bill/photo/hr1585-116/featured_large_violence-against-women-reauthorization-act-of-2019-1554444091.jpg","shareable":"https://n.causes.com/share-images/bills/hr1585-116.png"},"introduced_on":"2019-03-07","title_override":"Should Grants Aimed at Preventing Violence Against Women Be Reauthorized?","summary_override":"

This bill would reauthorize through fiscal year 2024 the Violence Against Women Act’s (VAWA) grant programs, which aim to protect women from domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The VAWA’s most recent authorization lapsed in December 2018. A breakdown of what this bill reauthorizes and reforms can be found below.

Some of the VAWA’s noteworthy grant programs include:

Training programs for law enforcement officers to improve their understanding of sexual assault as a crime, their ability to interview victims, and the quality of police investigations.
Training programs for district attorneys to help improve their ability to prosecute rape.
Training for judges to improve the environment for victims when cases go to trial.
Programs encouraging the reporting of sexual assault to police.
Funding for victim services and prevention programs at local sexual assault service providers.
Funding for sexual assault prevention programs on college campuses.
Funding for victim services in underserved areas.
Efforts to eliminate the backlog of untested DNA evidence from unsolved rape cases in accordance with the Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence Reporting (SAFER) Act.

Among the reforms to VAWA programs that this bill would make include:

A requirement that relevant law enforcement agencies be notified when a prohibited purchaser previously convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence or stalking obtains or attempts to obtain a firearm.
It would be illegal for individuals subject to a temporary protective order to own a firearm (current law only bars gun ownership for permanent protective orders).
Requiring states to discourage the use of bench warrants as a means of compelling victim-witness testimony during the investigation, prosecution, trial, or sentencing of a VAWA-related crime or lose VAWA grant funding.
Requiring the Bureau of Prisons to develop rules under which a transgender prisoner’s sex is determined according to the sex with which they identify, and to give serious consideration to a transgender or intersex prisoner’s views about their safety given an assignment to a facility with male or female prisoners.

","official_title":"To reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, and for other purposes.","short_title":"Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2019","popular_title":null,"short_summary":"","summarized":true,"cost":null,"cost_commentary":"A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.","impact":"Women; sexual assault survivors; sexual assault prevention programs; sexual assault survivor programs; sexual assault victim services; DNA backlogs; law enforcement officers; district attorneys; judges; colleges; LGBTQ community; DOJ; HHS; and VAWA.","argument_for":"This reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act would expand and improve the national response to the crisis of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. This bill’s reforms will prevent violence against women.","argument_against":"The Violence Against Women Act’s programs are too important for Congress to let VAWA become a partisan issue, but unfortunately House Democrats have done just that by including many ideological provisions.","bill_type":"hr","published":true,"type":"FederalBill","id":"hr1585-116","bill_id":"hr1585-116","formal_id":"H.R. 1585","chamber":"house","congress":116,"last_action_at":"2019-04-10T00:00:00.000Z","active":false,"enacted":false,"enacted_at":null,"vetoed":false,"last_vote_at":"2019-04-04T00:00:00.000Z","debated_on":"2019-03-29T05:45:53.000Z","congress_url":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/1585","plain_text_url":null,"shareable_image_url":"https://n.causes.com/share-images/bills/hr1585-116.png","congress_full_text_url":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/1585/text","is_current_congress":false,"last_version_on":null,"related_bill_ids":null,"progress":"Passed House","house_passage_result":true,"senate_passage_result":false,"position_count":450,"committees":[{"name":"Indigenous Peoples of the United States","chamber":"house","committee_id":"HSII24","subcommittee":true},{"name":"Committee on Education and Labor","chamber":"house","committee_id":"HSED","subcommittee":false},{"name":"Committee on Financial Services","chamber":"house","committee_id":"HSBA","subcommittee":false},{"name":"Committee on Energy and Commerce","chamber":"house","committee_id":"HSIF","subcommittee":false},{"name":"Committee on Natural Resources","chamber":"house","committee_id":"HSII","subcommittee":false},{"name":"Committee on the Judiciary","chamber":"house","committee_id":"HSJU","subcommittee":false},{"name":"Committee on Ways and Means","chamber":"house","committee_id":"HSWM","subcommittee":false},{"name":"Committee on Veterans' Affairs","chamber":"house","committee_id":"HSVR","subcommittee":false}],"links":{"rollCalls":"/api/roll_calls?bill_id=hr1585-116","details":"/api/bills/hr1585-116/details","sharingMessage":"/api/sharing_messages/hr1585-116","positionsFor":"/api/bills/hr1585-116/positions/for","positionsAgainst":"/api/bills/hr1585-116/positions/against"},"upcoming":false,"cosponsors_count":167,"slug":"hr1585-116-violence-against-women-reauthorization-act-of-2019","latest_chamber_votes_id":"hr1585-116","official_url":null,"target_video":true,"following":false,"vote_count":2328,"yea_vote_count":2018,"nay_vote_count":299,"passed_house":true,"passed_senate":false,"vote_id":null,"my_position_id":null,"topic_ids":["crime-and-police","crime-and-police","government","government","legal-affairs","legal-affairs","health","families","families"],"issue_ids":["guns","crime-and-police","crime-and-police","women-s-equality","women-s-equality","public-safety","budgets","federal-agencies","federal-agencies","government","government","legal-affairs","legal-affairs","health","states","states","families","families"],"sponsor_id":501}],"votes":[],"issues":[{"id":"guns","name":"Guns","slug":"guns","description":"Vote on the latest federal legislation regarding Guns. Make your voice heard about the issues you care about. ","page_title":"Guns Legislation - Vote on Bills, Stay informed, Hold Your Reps Accountable","icons":{"black":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/guns/black_guns-1429042052.svg","grey":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/guns/grey_guns-1429042052.svg","white":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/guns/white_guns-1429042052.svg"},"cover_image_url":"https://d15oah1tzzrs2i.cloudfront.net/uploads/upload/image/292/large_iStock-620740268.jpg","is_following":false},{"id":"crime-and-police","name":"Crime & Police","slug":"crime-and-police","description":"Federal legislation related to the prevention of crimes(from assault to organized crime to juvenile crime), firearms and explosives, correctional facilities and terrorism. Make your voice heard about the issues you care about.","page_title":"Crime Prevention Legislation - Vote on Bills, Stay informed, Hold Your Reps Accountable","icons":{"black":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/crime-and-police/black_crime-and-police-1429042040.svg","grey":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/crime-and-police/grey_crime-and-police-1429042040.svg","white":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/crime-and-police/white_crime-and-police-1429042040.svg"},"cover_image_url":null,"is_following":false},{"id":"women-s-equality","name":"Women's Equality","slug":"women-s-equality","description":"A collection of legislation in support of creating a more equal environment for women in the United States.","page_title":"Women's Equality","icons":{"black":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/women-s-equality/black_women-s-equality-1440184596.svg","grey":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/women-s-equality/grey_women-s-equality-1440184596.svg","white":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/women-s-equality/white_women-s-equality-1440184596.svg"},"cover_image_url":null,"is_following":false},{"id":"public-safety","name":"Public Safety","slug":"public-safety","description":"Vote on the latest federal legislation regarding Public Safety. Make your voice heard about the issues you care about.\r\n","page_title":"Public Safety Legislation - Vote on Bills, Stay informed, Hold Your Reps Accountable","icons":{"black":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/public-safety/black_public-safety-1431627646.svg","grey":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/public-safety/grey_public-safety-1431627646.svg","white":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/public-safety/white_public-safety-1431627646.svg"},"cover_image_url":null,"is_following":false},{"id":"budgets","name":"Budgets","slug":"budgets","description":"Vote on the latest federal legislation regarding Budgets. Make your voice heard about the issues you care about.","page_title":"Budgets Legislation - Vote on Bills, Stay informed, Hold Your Reps Accountable","icons":{"black":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/budgets/black_budgets-1429042067.svg","grey":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/budgets/grey_budgets-1429042067.svg","white":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/budgets/white_budgets-1429042067.svg"},"cover_image_url":null,"is_following":false},{"id":"federal-agencies","name":"Federal Agencies","slug":"federal-agencies","description":"Vote on the latest federal legislation regarding Federal Agencies. Make your voice heard about the issues you care about. \r\n","page_title":"Federal Agencies Legislation - Vote on Bills, Stay informed, Hold Your Reps Accountable","icons":{"black":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/federal-agencies/black_federal-agencies-1429042054.svg","grey":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/federal-agencies/grey_federal-agencies-1429042054.svg","white":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/federal-agencies/white_federal-agencies-1429042054.svg"},"cover_image_url":null,"is_following":false},{"id":"government","name":"Government","slug":"government","description":"Federal legislation related to the operations of the US Federal Government. Bills can encompass government administration, regulation of political parties, the US postal service, US territories and public contracts.","page_title":"US Government - Federal legislation - Vote on Bills, Stay informed, Hold Your Reps Accountable","icons":{"black":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/government/black_government-1453508811.svg","grey":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/government/grey_government-1453508811.svg","white":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/government/white_government-1453508811.svg"},"cover_image_url":null,"is_following":false},{"id":"legal-affairs","name":"Legal Affairs","slug":"legal-affairs","description":"The US Congress regulates many aspects of American Legal Affairs, including: the US Federal Courts(Appellate and District), Judges, the US Supreme Court, Civil Action, The Constitution and Constitutional Amendments.","page_title":"US Federal legislation related to Legal Affairs, including the Constitution and the Supreme Court - Vote on Bills, Stay informed, Hold Your Reps Accountable","icons":{"black":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/legal-affairs/black_legal-affairs-1429042044.svg","grey":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/legal-affairs/grey_legal-affairs-1429042044.svg","white":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/legal-affairs/white_legal-affairs-1429042044.svg"},"cover_image_url":null,"is_following":false},{"id":"health","name":"Health","slug":"health","description":"Federal legislation around Health, encompassing: the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, Research into diseases (Cancer, HIV/Aids, Ebola), Drug safety, Hospital care and prescription drugs.","page_title":"Health Related US Federal legislation, including Medicare, ACA, and research - Vote on Bills, Stay informed, Hold Your Reps Accountable","icons":{"black":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/health/black_health-1429042037.svg","grey":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/health/grey_health-1429042037.svg","white":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/health/white_health-1429042037.svg"},"cover_image_url":null,"is_following":false},{"id":"states","name":"States","slug":"states","description":"Vote on the latest federal legislation regarding States. Make your voice heard about the issues you care about. \r\n","page_title":"States Legislation - Vote on Bills, Stay informed, Hold Your Reps Accountable","icons":{"black":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/states/black_states-1453508817.svg","grey":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/states/grey_states-1453508817.svg","white":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/states/white_states-1453508817.svg"},"cover_image_url":null,"is_following":false},{"id":"families","name":"Families","slug":"families","description":"Congressional legislation related to Families encompassing a wide variety of potential subjects, including: adoption child care, child safety, domestic violence and abuse, marriage, divorce and teenage pregnancy.","page_title":"Federal legislation related to Families - Vote on Bills, Stay informed, Hold Your Reps Accountable","icons":{"black":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/families/black_families-1429042038.svg","grey":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/families/grey_families-1429042038.svg","white":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/families/white_families-1429042038.svg"},"cover_image_url":null,"is_following":false}],"users":[{"name":"Cindy ","vote_count":59,"photos":{"large":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/default-with-hat.png","small":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/default-with-hat.png","tiny":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/default-with-hat.png"},"links":{"following":"/api/users/49NeP6wm/following","followers":"/api/users/49NeP6wm/followers"},"about_me":null,"twitter_id":null,"facebook_id":null,"youtube_id":null,"google_plus_id":null,"website":null,"slug":null,"issue_count":0,"is_following":null,"influence_score":90,"influence_level":20,"follower_count":5,"following_count":4,"position_count":38,"id":"49NeP6wm","partner_id":"b1d5b10a-60bf-46c5-b1a3-296a82402945"},{"name":"Glowurm","vote_count":442,"photos":{"large":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/default-with-flags.png","small":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/default-with-flags.png","tiny":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/default-with-flags.png"},"links":{"following":"/api/users/ZBexoxrX/following","followers":"/api/users/ZBexoxrX/followers"},"about_me":"","twitter_id":"","facebook_id":"","youtube_id":null,"google_plus_id":null,"website":"","slug":"glowurm","issue_count":2,"is_following":null,"influence_score":4410,"influence_level":30,"follower_count":163,"following_count":271,"position_count":440,"id":"ZBexoxrX","partner_id":null}],"bill_position":{"flagged":false,"id":"740644de-3523-408f-b972-28a55ea467ce","argument_for":"Absolutely, there is a climate of political hostility against women at this time. We need to do all we can as a society to discourage violence against women.","argument_against":null,"show_argument_for":true,"show_argument_against":false,"upvote_count":1,"upvotes_for_count":1,"upvotes_against_count":null,"has_upvoted":false,"endorsement_count":1,"links":{"self":"https://www.causes.com/positions/740644de-3523-408f-b972-28a55ea467ce"},"body":"Absolutely, there is a climate of political hostility against women at this time. We need to do all we can as a society to discourage violence against women.","stance":"yea","created_at":"2019-04-05T14:31:56.240Z","shareable_image_url":"https://n.causes.com/share-images/positions/740644de-3523-408f-b972-28a55ea467ce.png","note_color":null,"note_text":null,"bill_id":"hr1585-116","user_id":"49NeP6wm","endorser_ids":["ZBexoxrX"]}}

Like Causes?

Cindy

Should Grants Aimed at Preventing Violence Against Women Be Reauthorized?