Today’s Action: Demand permanent funding for the Violence Against Women Act

Hidden in the noise of Trump’s Christmas Shutdown is chilling tragedy not getting the attention it deserves. In their xenophobic hunger — and failure — to pass a budget including $5 billion for a Mexico border wall and thus leading to a partial government shutdown, Republicans allowed funding for the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) to expire.

Every 16 hours in the United States, a woman is killed by her intimate partner with a gun. A staggering statistic that only scratches the surface of the variety and lethality in which millions of women face assault and brutality on a daily basis.

VAWA was enacted in 1994 in the aftermath of sexual harassment allegations by Anita Hill against then-nominee Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. This landmark legislation has provided abused, battered, and stalked women with vital support networks: rape crisis centers, shelters, legal assistance, counseling, and more.

Twenty four years later, Senate Republicans confirmed a second Supreme Court Justice with a history of sexual misconduct…and now VAWA has expired.

Which means Congress must act immediately to prevent another crisis of its own making.

Call or email your Members of Congress and demand they pass permanent funding for the Violence Against Women Act. Tell them we need necessary and life-saving legislation.

We need this protection. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) introduced the International Violence Against Women Act of 2018 earlier this year that would strengthen law enforcement’s ability to remove firearms from abusers, increase funding for rape crisis centers, and provide support for victims of domestic violence.

The act currently has 181 Democratic co-signers…and zero Republicans. Outgoing House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) refused all calls (even from his own party) to allow a vote on full authorization. Which means when the new Democratic-majority House arrives on January 3rd, we need them to prioritize this bill.

The GOP is really going out of its way to these days to prove their disrespect and disregard toward women. So it’s time to turn up the volume and take action today.

Email or call (202.224.3121) your Members of Congress and tell them to prioritize the Violence Against Women Act. Anything less than permanent funding and full support is dangerous to the lives of millions of women, and we refuse to stand for it.