Peace Place Executive Director Comments on Renewal of Violence Against Women Act

The U.S. House of Representatives recently voted to renew the previously stalled Violence Against Women Act, which originally expired in 2011, and the bill is awaiting the president's signature. 

Kelley Ondovchik, executive director for Peace Place, an area shelter that assists battered women and their children, had the following to say about the law: 

The passing of this legislation ensures continued funding for victims and survivors of domestic violence. This is truly a great step forward in the effort to end domestic violence and the culmination of many years of hard work by advocates and survivors. We would like to thank everyone who contacted their senators and representatives on behalf of this bill.

According to a Washington Post article, the law has been renewed twice before without controversy, but it lapsed in 2011 caught up in the partisan battles dividing Congress. Last year, the House refused to pass a Senate-approved bill that would have made clear that lesbians, gays, immigrants and Native American women should have equal access to Violence Against Women Act programs.

The renewal of the law now brings gays, lesbians, transgender individuals, Native Americans and immigrants under its protections.

According to a post by USA Today, the legislation authorizes funding for programs that help victims, as well as those that prosecute individuals accused of domestic violence and sexual assault. There are also new provisions addressing stalking that would cover the use of spyware and video surveillance equipment.

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