TELL THE SENATE: PASS THE HOUSE VERSION OF THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT (VAWA)
ACTION ONE: CALL YOUR SENATORS
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR WYDEN AND MERKLEY:
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling because…
“The Violence Against Women Act is very important to me. The House was able to pass a bipartisan bill. Thirty-three Republicans supported all of the improvements, including a ban on firearms purchases by intimate partners convicted to abuse or stalking. I ask the Senator not to let this bipartisan work go in vain. Please work hard for passage of the House bill in the Senate. Thank you.”
CALL SENATOR MERKLEY
CALL SENATOR WYDEN
ACTION TWO: CALL YOUR HOUSE REPS
Not sure who your U.S. Representative is? Find out here.
SAMPLE SCRIPTS FOR REPRESENTATIVES:
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling to say . . .
Thank you for voting to support the Violence Against Women Act. This legislation is very important to me. I am thrilled to see bipartisan support. Please use your influence to secure its passage in the Senate. Thank you. ”
CALL SUZANNE BONAMICI (OR-01)
CALL GREG WALDEN (OR-02)
CALL BLUMENAUER (OR-03)
CALL PETER DEFAZIO (OR-04)
CALL KURT SCHRADER (OR-05)
BACKGROUND:
Last week the House reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) after Congress allowed its expirations in the last shutdown. By an overwhelming vote, including 33 Republicans and the entire Oregon delegation, the House passed a broader VAWA that would:
- expand financial aid so that domestic violence victims can stay in their homes
- increase punishment for cyberbullying
- allow transgender women to use women’s shelters and serve in women’s prisons.
- facilitate criminal database sharing between federal, state and tribal authorities.
- forbid federal law enforcement officers to have sex – consensual or not — while in the course of their official duties.
- add texts to National Domestic Violence Hotline’s repertoire.
- ban all firearms purchases by intimate partners convicted of abuse or stalking
The gun ban has raised Senate leadership protests, despite knowing that the presence of a gun in a domestic dispute increases the risk of death more than 500 percent.
Although VAWA has expired, the program will continue to issue approximately $1 billion in grants annually through 2024. Not good enough. We can’t have a legally vulnerable VAWA. Please call on our Senators to push for reauthorization in this Congress.
