Res. No. 1662
Resolution calling upon the United States House of Representatives to immediately pass the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (VAWA).
By The Speaker (Council Member Quinn), Council Members Williams, Ferreras, Dromm, Rose, Lappin, Recchia, King, Arroyo, Brewer, Chin, Comrie, Dickens, Fidler, Gentile, Jackson, James, Koo, Koppell, Koslowitz, Lander, Mendez, Nelson, Palma, Van Bramer, Vann and Rodriguez
Whereas, In 1994, the Unites States Congress passed the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) as part of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994; and
Whereas, VAWA was a groundbreaking legislative package that focused on many facets of violence against women for the first time; and
Whereas, According to a Congressional Research Service Report entitled Violence Against Women Act: History and Federal Funding, VAWA emphasizes funding of law enforcement efforts as well as educational and social programs to prevent crime; and
Whereas, According to Legal Momentum, The Women's Legal Defense and Education Fund, since the passage of VAWA, there has been a paradigm shift in how the issue of violence against women is addressed "from law enforcement to victim services to Capitol Hill"; and
Whereas, According to the New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, many City-based domestic violence programs receive funding through VAWA grants; and
Whereas, Most of New York City's domestic violence and sexual assault service providers are recipients of VAWA funding, including the New York City Family Justice Centers; and
Whereas, New York City continues to need such funding to continue its coordinated community response to crimes of violence; and
Whereas, According to the Mayor's Office to Combat Domestic Violence, the New York City Police Department (NYPD) responded to 263,207 domestic violence incidents in 2012, which is an average of over 720 incidents per day; and
Whereas, Since its initial passage, VAWA was reauthorized without controversy in 5 year increments in 2000 and 2005; and
Whereas, VAWA was again due for reauthorization in 2011 and legislation was introduced in both Houses of Congress, however, each house passed different versions which were never reconciled and therefore died at the end of the session; and
Whereas, Legislation was reintroduced in the current session, and on February 12, 2013, the United States Senate overwhelmingly passed S.47, also known as the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013; and
Whereas, In his State of the Union address on February 12, 2013, President Obama called on the House of Representatives to act swiftly and pass VAWA reauthorization as well; and
Whereas, In the past nineteen years, VAWA has aided thousands of women and families and has likely prevented untold numbers from entering into or remaining in abusive relationships; and
Whereas, The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 improves upon previous VAWA reauthorizations by expanding certain programs to better serve victims of violence who are immigrants, children, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ), Native American, persons who are trafficked, and those who are victimized later in life; and
Whereas, In addition, the VAWA 2013 reauthorization also includes language to address sexual assault, sexual violence and stalking on college campuses and aims to eliminate the national backlog of sexual assault forensic evidence kits; and
Whereas, VAWA reauthorization is essential to continue this progress and the House of Representatives must act to bring strong bi-partisan legislation to the floor for a vote; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the United States House of Representatives to immediately pass the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (VAWA).
JP
2/20/13
LS#4356, 4364