Congress’s Unfinished Business: The Violence Against Women Act

By Lindsey Siegel, Staff Attorney, Skadden Fellow [Previous Publication from the Atlanta Journal Constitution]

They are smothered with pillows and held hostage in their houses. They have their teeth kicked out. They are poisoned and shot at in front of their kids. They are kicked in the stomach while pregnant. Am I describing atrocities committed against women and children in foreign countries at war? No, these are Georgia domestic violence cases with which I have worked as a lawyer in the past year alone. With crimes like these taking place within our state, it is not surprising that Georgia ranks 10th in the nation for its rate of men killing women. 

Lindsey Siegel, Staff Atorney, Skadden Fellow

 On February 12th, the Senate passed VAWA in a bipartisan 78-22 vote (62 of those voting “yes” were co-sponsors).  The majority of domestic violence advocates support this version of the bill, which increases funding to programs and expands protections to LGBT and Native American victims, among others.  The fight continues, though, with the bill heading to the House. 

 I have seen firsthand the impact that the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) has on our ability to fight these abuses in Georgia. With robust bipartisan support, Congress passed and twice reauthorized this key piece of legislation. Unfortunately, Congress failed to agree on a new, updated version of VAWA before the end of the 112th session. While its current protections do not expire, Congress must prioritize VAWA’s passage in the coming weeks to expand assistance to all—including Tribal, immigrant, and LGBTQ—victims of domestic violence. Sarah Buel noted in her article It’s Time to Pass the Violence Against Women Act, which appeared in the Arizona Republic on December 13, 2012, that there are at least five good reasons why Congress should immediately reauthorize VAWA and provide appropriate funding; and the realities in Georgia bear this out. 

 First, the statistics are staggering: The Dept. of Justice reports that about four American women are murdered each day by a current or former partner—and about 100 of those happen here in Georgia every year. If foreign terrorists were killing four Americans a day, how would we react? According to the American Medical Association, American women are in more danger in their homes than on the street – a situation VAWA can help change. 

Second, VAWA’s reforms are working: Sexual and domestic violence assaults are down across the nation. VAWA has augmented judicial and law enforcement tools, improved housing and economic security for victims, and enhanced the healthcare system’s response. The services provided by VAWA are the difference between life and death for many victims of domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking.

 Third, VAWA is a cost-effective mechanism to prevent and address crime in our communities: Violence against women is expensive—medical care, lost work productivity, and lost wages constitute over $5.8 billion per year. It is estimated, however, that during its first six years alone, VAWA saved about $14.8 billion in prevented net social costs. 

Fourth, VAWA keeps our children safer by helping the non-violent parent flee and ensuring that children grow up in a safe environment. As many as 15.5 million children witness abuse in their homes each year. These children may learn that it is okay to be abusive to get what you want and thus have a higher likelihood of later involvement in the courts. VAWA can change this.


Fifth, VAWA has been a fundamental part of this nation’s public safety strategy since 1994, creating many new law enforcement and community programs designed to protect victims and get violent criminals off the street. Through VAWA, Georgia receives funding to provide services to victims and their children, train and staff law enforcement, and more. Our homeland security plan must include protection from terrorists inside the home as well as from strangers and political terrorists. 

Congress should immediately reauthorize and fully fund the Violence Against Women Act.

Looking to make a difference? Contact your representative and tell her/him to support the Senate version of the bill.