Not all homes provide a safe haven. For the victims of domestic violence, home is a place where hearts and lives are broken. Family violence spares no one. The partner who is battered and the children who watch, or who themselves may be abused, all suffer. Their physical and emotional pain is long-lasting.
Domestic violence continues to pose a clear and present danger to the health and well-being of women. For far too many women violence and danger are their constant companions. Yet, domestic violence is a subject that we, as a society, are reluctant to talk about. As a result, victims often suffer and die in silence. And despite the intense media attention recently focused on a few high profile courtroom cases, the public remains largely uninformed about the nature and warning signs of domestic violence.
Until recently, domestic violence was viewed as a “private family matter” as opposed to a crime against society with potentially lethal consequences. Increasingly our public institutions—law enforcement, the courts, policy makers, health care providers, and social service providers—are recognizing incidents of domestic violence as violent criminal acts with devastating consequences for individual victims, their children, and the community, and are seeking effective methods for dealing with this pressing public health issue. Community support and involvement are integral parts of domestic violence prevention and intervention. The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) has provided funding for much needed supportive programs for victims of domestic violence.
The National Task for to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women in its recent action alert reminds us that the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is due for reauthorization. It has been reported that Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Mike Crapo (R-ID), will introduce a bipartisan bill on Wednesday, November 30, 2011, to reauthorize and improve VAWA. In its action alert, the National Task Force indicates that it has worked closely with them on “…the bill to ensure that it will not only continue proven effective programs, but that it will make key changes to streamline VAWA and make sure that even more people have access to safety, stability and justice.”
The National Task for to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women reminds us that it is important to get the Senators on the list below excited about VAWA and to get their support for the bill. With that said, if you live in any of the states listed below, please call your Senator(s) TODAY and ask for them to be original co-sponsors of VAWA. It is critical to VAWA’s reauthorization to get and keep our elected officials telephones ringing.
To assist you in placing your call, the National Task for to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women’s action alert provides the following talking points and contact information for your elected officials in Washington, DC.
“Talking points:
We know that Senator _________ cares about ending domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking.
The Violence Against Women Act is critical to our ability to address these crimes in our state.
There is evidence showing that VAWA has saved millions of dollars and countless lives.
We are asking for you to be an original co-sponsor of the Leahy/Crapo bill that will be introduced on Wednesday.
Please contact Anya McMurray or Noah Bookbinder at (202)224-7703 to sign on to the bill.”
Alabama
Sessions, Jeff – (202) 224-4124
Shelby, Richard – (202) 224-5744
Arkansas
Boozman, John – (202) 224-4843
Alaska
Murkowski, Lisa – (202) 224-6665
Arizona
McCain, John – (202) 224-2235
Kyl, Jon – (202) 224-4521
Florida
Rubio, Marco – (202) 224-3041
Georgia
Chambliss, Saxby – (202) 224-3521
Isakson, Johnny – (202) 224-3643
Idaho
Crapo, Mike – (202) 224-6142 – (thank him!)
Risch, James – (202) 224-2752
Illinois
Kirk, Mark – (202) 224-2854
Indiana
Lugar, Richard – (202) 224-4814
Coats, Daniel – (202) 224-5623
Iowa
Grassley, Chuck – (202) 224-3744
Louisiana
Vitter, David – (202) 224-4623
Kansas
Moran, Jerry – (202) 224-6521
Roberts, Pat – (202) 224-4774
Kentucky
McConnell, Mitch – (202) 224-2541
Paul, Rand – (202) 224-4343
Maine
Collins, Susan – (202) 224-2523
Snowe, Olympia – (202) 224-5344
Massachusetts
Brown, Scott – (202) 224-4543
Mississippi
Cochran, Thad – (202) 224-5054
Wicker, Roger – (202) 224-6253
Missouri
Blunt, Roy – (202) 224-5721
Nebraska
Johanns, Mike – (202) 224-4224
Nevada
Heller, Dean – (202) 224-6244
New Hampshire
Ayotte, Kelly – (202) 224-3324
North Carolina
Burr, Richard – (202) 224-3154
North Dakota
Hoeven, John – (202) 224-2551
Ohio
Portman, Rob – (202) 224-3353
Oklahoma
Coburn, Tom – (202) 224-5754
Inhofe, James – (202) 224-4721
Pennsylvania
Toomey, Patrick – (202) 224-4254
South Carolina
DeMint, Jim – (202) 224-6121
Graham, Lindsey – (202) 224-5972
South Dakota
Thune, John – (202) 224-2321
Tennessee
Alexander, Lamar – (202) 224-4944
Corker, Bob – (202) 224-3344
Texas
Cornyn, John – (202) 224-2934
Hutchison, Kay Bailey – (202) 224-5922
Utah
Hatch, Orrin – (202) 224-5251
Lee, Mike – (202) 224-5444
Wisconsin
Johnson, Ron – (202) 224-5323
Wyoming
Enzi, Michael – (202) 224-3424
Barrasso, John – (202) 224-6441
Please join me in contacting our elected officials to remind them of the importance of reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). With an equal amount of conscience, mind, heart, and collective action, we can eradicate domestic violence.
Source(s): National Task for to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women
Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art
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