MEDIA RELEASE

President Barack Obama made history by signing the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (VAWA) into law, according to Sen. Brian Schatz.

VAWA provides the federal government and law enforcement with the critical tools to combat domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, human trafficking, and stalking.

Schatz, an original cosponsor of VAWA, vows to work with local officials to fully implement the law.

“President Obama made history today by signing the Violence Against Women Act into law that will bring survivors of domestic violence out of the shadows to receive critical life-saving service. The law provides the federal government with additional tools to prevent incidents, provide necessary support for victims, and prosecute perpetrators to the fullest extent of the law,” Schatz said.

“With the high rate of domestic violence involving Native Women, we included a provision in the law that Sen. Akaka wrote to address domestic violence in Indian Country by expanding tribal criminal jurisdiction. I am particularly pleased that the bill expands grant eligibility to Native Hawaiian organizations,” he said. “I will continue to work with the Domestic Violence Action Center and local officials to ensure full implementation of the law so that we can begin providing closure to the thousands of victims of domestic violence in Hawaii and around the country.”

Last month, Schatz met with Nanci Kreidman of the Domestic Violence Action Center to discuss funding for the organization and the importance of VAWA.

Since the passage of VAWA in 1994, there has been a drop in domestic violence incidents by 50 percent.