Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) marked the 20th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) on Saturday.
“While our nation continues to engage in a critical conversation over domestic violence, we must renew our urgency to ensure all victims have the full scope of justice on their side,” Murray said.
{mosads}VAWA was first signed into law on Sept. 13, 1994. Congress reauthorized the bill last year adding protections for tribal women, the LGBT community and immigrants.
“It has been one of the honors of my time here in the Senate to ensure that VAWA’s protections extend to all victims, regardless of who they love, where they live, or their immigration status,” Murray said. “Throughout the last twenty years, countless women have had the courage to come forward and tell painful stories about why this bill was so vital to them.”
Murray’s comments and the anniversary come as lawmakers are questioning the National Football League’s (NFL) policies toward domestic abusers after a video of Ray Rice punching his fiancée was released.
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has discussed the possibility of holding a hearing on the topic.