Senate Votes to Reauthorize Domestic Violence Legislation

Despite initial concern that certain legislation would not be passed, the Senate recently voted to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act. In addition to providing added funding to agencies across the country, two more groups of victims were included under its protection. Before the Act was subject to a vote, however, there were months of political maneuvering in which several organizations, mostly those affiliated with the Republican Party, worked to have the Act shot down. The legislation, initially passed in 1994, was the first of its kind to give law enforcement agencies the tools they needed to prosecute domestic violence offenders.

Under the new version of the Act, which still has to be passed in the House, homosexuals and American Indians will also be able to seek protection as victims of domestic abuse. In the past, these groups were not able to obtain help under the language of the former legislation. However, there are still several provisions that have many politicians up in arms and could prevent the Act from getting the votes it needs for reauthorization. If you have been the victim of abuse in an intimate relationship and you want to seek legal protection, contact Claery & Green today to get immediate help from a Los Angeles family lawyer from our team.