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Swalwell Cosponsors Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Reauthorization

January 23, 2013

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-CA) cosponsored H.R. 11, the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act, introduced yesterday by Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-WI). This bill is essentially the same as the reauthorization that passed the Senate last Congress on a bipartisan basis, but was not considered by the House.

Swalwell released the following statement:

"I worked as a prosecutor for seven years and I saw the horrible violence women are subjected to on a daily basis in this country. It's unconscionable that women are still victimized like this in our civilized society.

"Thanks to the landmark 1994 Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) we have made great strides inprotecting women from domestic violence and sexual assault, but there is much work left to do. That's why it was so frustrating that the bipartisan reauthorization of VAWA passed by the Senate was not considered by the House last Congress.

"I'm proud to cosponsor what is essentially that same bill today, introduced by my colleague from Wisconsin, Congresswoman Gwen Moore. This bill reauthorizes and makes critical improvements to VAWA, including better protections for LGBT Americans, immigrants, and Native Americans.

"The bipartisan VAWA reauthorization legislation should be considered expeditiously. The safety of women is of paramount importance and we should pass this bill without delay."

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