Today, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02), the founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Task Force to End Sexual Violence, joined her colleagues to co-sponsor H.R. 1585, a bipartisan long-term reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Since first enacted nearly a quarter-century ago as part of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, VAWA has dramatically reduced intimate partner violence against women and men. VAWA has been successful by funding interventions that research has shown to be effective—such as legal assistance, law enforcement training, protection order enforcement, access to medical forensic examinations, and support for essential services for survivors.

“Every woman, man and child has the right to live free from the threat of violence,” said Kuster. “I’m proud to stand with my colleagues in support of the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act to help prevent domestic and sexual violence and provide survivors with the support services they need to heal and move forward. I will continue to work across the aisle to enhance protections for families in New Hampshire and across the country."

Kuster has long been a champion for survivors of sexual and domestic violence, sharing her own personal experiences involving sexual assault on the House floor and joining with 17 other Members of Congress to read Emily Doe’s open letter describing her attack and ensuing trial – which marked the first time a victim’s statement has been read in full in the House chambers. The Bipartisan Task Force to End Sexual Violence works to raise awareness and propose solutions to the challenges posed by sexual assault and released their first legislative agenda last summer. The Task Force’s areas of focus include: K-12 education, campus sexual violence, the rape kit backlog, military sexual trauma, improved data and collection, online harassment, and law enforcement training. 

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