January 5, 2006

Pryce Hails Signing of Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization

Washington, D.C. — House Republican Conference Chairman Deborah Pryce (R-Upper Arlington) today praised the president’s signing of the Violence Against Women Act reauthorization, H.R. 3402.

“Since its passage in 1994, the Violence Against Women Act has been an essential tool in the fight against domestic violence,” Pryce said. “The legislation the president signed today will build on the success of the Violence Against Women Act and provide new tools to combat domestic violence and protect its victims.

“As a judge, I saw firsthand the evils of domestic violence and the destruction it wreaks in the lives of the innocent. This legislation will provide help and hope to victims of domestic violence and provide new resources to law enforcement as they work to eradicate this evil,” Pryce said.

The Violence Against Women Act reauthorization extends core programs on domestic violence and contains new provisions to enhance our ability to combat violence against women and children. Specifically, the act will do the following:

• Increase funding for rape crisis centers;
• Increase funding to combat violent crimes on campuses;
• Place special victim assistants in local law enforcement agencies to serve as liaisons between law enforcement and victims;
• Create a separate stream of funding dedicated to sexual assault services;
• Create a new program to improve teenagers’ access to the courts; and
• Create a national education curriculum for state and national judicial educators to ensure that all courts have access to information about relevant laws and best practices.