On July 13, the Senate Committee on the Judiciary held a hearing, “The Violence Against Women Act: Building On Seventeen Years Of Accomplishments.”
Chair Patrick Leahy (D-VT) noted that since its enactment in 1994, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) (P.L. 103-322) “has been the centerpiece of the federal government’s commitment to combating domestic violence, sexual assault, and other violent crimes against women.” Sen. Leahy said, “[VAWA] has helped to transform our criminal justice system, improving the response to the complex issues of domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. It has provided legal remedies, social support, and coordinated community responses. With time, it has evolved to better address the needs of underserved populations and to include critical new programs focusing on prevention. Since the enactment of the Violence Against Women Act, the rate of domestic violence has declined, more victims have felt confident to come forward to report these crimes and to seek help, and states have come forward to enact complimentary laws to combat these crimes.” He acknowledged that despite VAWA’s successes, “our country still has a long way to go. Millions of women, men, children, and families continue to be traumatized by abuse. We know that 1.3 million women are victims of physical assault by a partner each year. One in six women and one in 33 men are victims of sexual assault. One in twelve women and one in 45 men have been stalked in their lifetime.” He added, “Programs are more vital than ever, including the STOP Formula Grant program, which provides resources to law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, the courts, and victim advocacy groups to improve victim safety and to hold offenders accountable for their crimes against women. The Transitional Housing Assistance Grants program is also essential to provide safe havens to victims fleeing from domestic and dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. In the midst of a mortgage and housing crisis, transitional housing is especially important because long-term housing options are becoming increasingly scarce.”
“As an original cosponsor of the Senate version of the reauthorization, I remain deeply committed to ensuring federal resources are provided to programs to prevent and end sexual assault and domestic violence,” said Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-IA). “There is, however, an unfortunate reality that we must face. We live in dramatically different times today than we did in 2000 or 2005 when VAWA was previously reauthorized…During these difficult economic times, we simply can’t continue to allocate resources without verifying that the resources are being used as effectively and efficiently as possible. Now, that doesn’t mean we do away with VAWA as a program. Instead, it means that as we in this committee look to reauthorize this program, we need to take a hard look at every single taxpayer dollar expended, determine how those dollars are being used, and determine if the stated purpose of the program is being met. The American taxpayers expect us to do this with every law and this hearing affords us that opportunity.” After detailing his concerns about the Department of Justice’s ability to monitor VAWA grants, reports, and recordkeeping, Sen. Grassley explained that [I]n today’s economic environment, we cannot tolerate this level of malfeasance in federal grant programs. There are too many victims out there that do not have access to necessary services for the Justice Department to continue to provide funding to entities that play fast and loose with taxpayer dollars…Given the difficult financial situation that our nation faces, it is imperative that any reauthorization of VAWA include, at a minimum, new studies to determine how effective VAWA programs are, whether grantees are providing adequate services for the amount of funding they receive, and how we root out and cut down on fraud and abuse by VAWA grantees. This grant program accountability will help to ensure that services really go to those in need.”
Eileen R. Larence, director of Homeland Security and Justice at the Government Accountability Office (GAO), discussed the initiatives among federal departments and agencies to collect data on violence against women: “The 2006 reauthorization of VAWA required us to study and report on data indicating the prevalence of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking among men, women, youth, and children, as well as services available to the victims. Such data could be used to inform decisions regarding investments in grant programs…As we reported in November 2006, the amount of national research that has been conducted on the prevalence of domestic violence and sexual assault among men, women, youth, and children was limited, and less research had been conducted on the prevalence of dating violence and stalking. However, efforts underway by HHS [Department of Health and Human Services] and DOJ [Department of Justice] help address some of these information gaps.” Ms. Larence added, “Although perfect data may never exist because of the sensitivity of these crimes and the likelihood that not all occurrences will be disclosed, agencies have taken initiatives since our report was issued to help address some of these gaps or have efforts underway. These initiatives are consistent with our recommendation that the attorney general and secretary of Health and Human Services determine the extent to which initiatives being planned or underway can be designed or modified to address existing information gaps. For example, DOJ’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), in collaboration with CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention], sponsored a nationwide survey of the incidence and prevalence of children’s (ages 17 and younger) exposure to violence across several major crime categories, including witnessing domestic violence and peer victimization (which includes teen dating violence). OJJDP released incidence and prevalence measures related to children’s exposure to violence, including teen dating violence, in 2009. Thus, Congress, agency decision makers, practitioners, and researchers have more comprehensive information to assist them in making decisions on grants and other issues to help address teen dating violence.”
Dr. Phillip McGraw, host of the Dr. Phil show, discussed the efforts of the End the Silence on Domestic Violence campaign: “We partnered with the National Network to End Domestic Violence [NNEDV] and with our viewers who became ‘Silence Breakers’ committed to bringing about change. We brought in experts from every walk of life. In an unprecedented programming move we committed and will continue to commit countless hours of programming to educate millions of women across America about their rights, about what constitutes violence and abuse and how to SAFELY deal with it when it happens. We gave them tools and pointed them to critically important resources. Courageous women came forward with cautionary tales.” However, Dr. McGraw explained the need for continued resources to combat domestic violence, saying, “In today’s economic times, needs are increasing but resources are drying up, shelters, transitional housing, counseling, and childcare. A 2010 census by NNEDV found in just one day, more than 70,600 adults and children were served by local domestic violence programs. Yet, more than 9,500 requests for services went unmet…Bottom line, we need more meaningful legislation like VAWA, providing critical programs and support. We need better-coordinated efforts between Family AND criminal courts. We need to increase funding to NSF [National Science Foundation] and NIMH [National Institute of Mental Health] to continue important behavioral research that informs legislation like VAWA. He added, “We must also focus on the power of prevention through education in schools and at home by creating and funding curriculums to educate and inoculate young women and men. I am working with other professionals to develop evidence-based treatment programs geared toward middle and high school kids. And we, as husbands and fathers, must model for and teach our children what a loving, respectful relationship looks like.”
Dr. Jane Van Buren, executive director of Women Helping Battered Women, Inc. (WHBW), described how VAWA has enabled the organization to provide for women and their families in the past. According to Dr. Van Buren, “We provide comprehensive services for those affected by domestic violence who are seeking immediate and long-term help to escape abusive situations and improve their lives. This includes support and counseling for children exposed to and affected by violence, transitional and short-term emergency housing, legal advocacy and collaboration with law enforcement, employment and job readiness training, credit counseling and repair, crisis intervention, safety planning and extensive public education and training. VAWA programs are necessary in order for us to continue in our efforts to address these critical and on-going needs.” She continued, “Women Helping Battered Women receives money from the STOP (Services, Training, Officers, Prosecutors) Formula Grant program, which is one of the most comprehensive and effective means of reducing domestic and sexual violence…We also receive funds through the Transitional Housing Assistance Grants program, which has enabled us to develop an innovative housing program in Burlington in collaboration with the Burlington Housing Authority. The Transitional Housing Assistance program is essential to our ability to provide safe havens and related services to victims fleeing domestic and dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. In the midst of a mortgage and housing crisis, transitional housing is especially important because long-term housing options are becoming increasingly scarce…By reauthorizing VAWA and maintaining the funding for transitional housing services and coordinated community response services through STOP, Congress has the unique opportunity to help victims secure housing, life-long financial independence and, thus, reduce their reliance on public programs.”
Julie Poner and Michael Shaw, co-director of Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services at Waypoint Services for Women, Children and Families, also testified.