Title
Urging Congress to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which helps to prevent and respond to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.
Body
WHEREAS, VAWA, which was first passed in 1994 and reauthorized in 2000, 2005, and 2013, provides grants for victim services and violence prevention efforts. It was the first piece of federal legislation to address domestic violence as a serious crime and established the National Domestic Violence Hotline. VAWA not only saves lives but it also saves money. According to the National Task Force to End Sexual & Domestic Violence, in its first six years of implementation, VAWA saved taxpayers at least $12.6 billion in averted social costs. VAWA expires this month and lawmakers must act to renew it; and
WHEREAS, In the U.S., about 1 in 3 women experience physical violence by an intimate partner at some point in her lifetime. Eighty-five percent of domestic violence victims are women. In Philadelphia, the police department receives over 100,000 emergency 911 calls related to domestic abuse each year. Last year, thirteen domestic violence deaths occurred in Philadelphia, the most of any county in Pennsylvania. As of mid-August, Philadelphia recorded its 21st domestic killing of 2018. This number is up 50% compared to this time last year; and
WHEREAS, Firearms are the most common weapons in domestic violence related homicides. A woman is killed by an intimate partner with a gun every 16 hours. According to Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 2017 saw the highest number of domestic abuse related deaths caused by firearms in 10 years in Pennsylvania. Out of 117 domestic violence deaths, 78 deaths were caused by gun violence; and
WHEREAS, Domestic violence incidents are some of the most dangerous calls to which police respond. A study by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund found that more officers were killed responding to domestic violence calls t...
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