Congresswoman Scanlon Celebrates Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act
Washington, D.C.,
March 16, 2022
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) issued the following statement today after attending President Biden’s signing ceremony for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA): “When enacted, the Violence Against Women Act started a culture shift — moving domestic violence out of the shadows. VAWA changed our approach to addressing domestic violence, taking it from being treated as a ‘family problem’ to recognizing it as the violent crime and abuse of power that it is. I worked with victims of domestic violence for nearly 40 years and saw firsthand how VAWA has been an important tool in combatting domestic violence. I am so grateful to the bipartisan group of U.S. Senators and Representatives who got this bill to President Biden’s desk after several years of stonewalling by Republicans. There is still more work to be done — including closing the boyfriend loophole that currently allows convicted domestic abusers to keep firearms, despite clear evidence of the heightened risk to their victims — but I am thrilled to celebrate this reauthorization and all that it means for our communities.” ### |