Senate Renews Violence Against Women Act
Those on the front lines of battling domestic violence in Chicago were heartened last week when the U.S
. Senate voted to renew the Violence Against Women Act, the main domestic violence program of the federal government. In a 68-31 vote, the Senate sent the renewed and expanded Act to the House. The House of Representatives has been in the process of writing its own version of the bill. Originally enacted in 1994, the law, which has normally been renewed without controversy, was designed to protect women and children from domestic violence. However, during this election season, debate over the bill was waged for several weeks.
According to Dawn Dalton, head of the Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women's Network that serves victims of domestic violence and also runs the statewide domestic violence help line, the law provides for funding to law enforcement, District Attorney's offices, and service providers. She explained that the law provides funding to organizations that enable domestic violence victims to get out of bad situations.
Several Republicans, however, wanted the bill rewritten to remove language protecting LGBT individuals and to discontinue protection for illegal immigrants who suffer domestic violence. The substitute bill authored by two Republican senators, that removed words like "sexual orientation" and "gender identity," was defeated prior to the vote on the original bill. According to Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), the revised bill still protected same-sex couples, but neutralized language so that the Act could be applied to anyone, regardless of gender.
Despite the extended debate on the floor of the U.S. Senate, there was certainly bi-partisan agreement that domestic violence is a heinous abuse that is not to be tolerated. Several domestic violence advocacy groups and family law attorney organizations were heartened that the language of the renewed bill includes protection for all persons and expressed hope that the bill would go a long way to protecting those who are most vulnerable.
Unfortunately, despite the presence of the Act since 1994, domestic violence remains a reality for many people. In divorce and custody cases, proof of abuse can result in the victim getting sole possession of a residence or total custody of any children involved. Sadly, unscrupulous partners have also used this information to falsely accuse a partner of domestic violence. If you are involved in any type of family court case in which domestic violence has become an issue, you need the help of an experienced domestic violence attorney in Chicago. A domestic violence attorney will help you document the information that will be important in your case and will work to ensure that you receive the best possible outcome to your case.
by: maxstephon
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