President Biden signed the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) & Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) jointly stated, “Finally, this historic legislation will carry major bipartisan legislation that has been in the making for years. The Violence Against Women Act, expired for too many years, will finally be reauthorized.” But this legislation comes with pros & cons. Liz Seaton, Policy Director, The Task Force concluded, “The National LGBTQ Task Force announces that the bipartisan omnibus spending package President Biden signed today contains reauthorization of the landmark Violence Against Women Act. From 2013 to 2019 when VAWA expired, it has prohibited discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation & gender identity by those providing help to victims. While it does so much more, this Act creates the first grant program dedicated to expanding and developing initiatives specifically for LGBTQ domestic violence & sexual assault survivors. Our sister organization, the National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund, participated in a working group on bill language & advocated for its passage. We must note that the omnibus package includes the unjust Hyde Amendment. It bars federal funding to cover most abortions, undermining reproductive justice & the bodily integrity of women & LGBTQ folk. This is especially true for especially Black & Brown people, people dependent for their health & survival on federal monies & people living in poverty.” So with that said let’s move forward & insist the Senate now pass the Equality Act that passed in the U.S. House just weeks after President Biden was inaugurated but still hasn’t reached the floor for a vote in the Senate.
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