Congressman Cohen Votes to Reauthorize Violence Against Women Act

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, today voted for, and the House passed, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA), which preserves and improves protections for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. The vote was 263 to 158.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

"This bill will help ensure that violence against women will not be tolerated and modernizes our approach to domestic violence. This bill will help save lives."

The bipartisan VAWA reauthorization bill improves upon previous versions of the law the first of which was enacted in 1994. The new bill increases penalties for cyber stalking and requires federal law enforcement agencies to evaluate and update their practices for combatting online harassment and cyber bullying. It also closes a loophole that currently allows stalkers and known abusers to purchase guns.