(Downer’s Grove, IL). Representative Elect Sean Casten called on the Republican-led Congress to extend funding for the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) – set to expire December 7th – while renewing his call for passage of H.R. 6545 (Sheila Jackson Lee, D-TX),a long-term expansion of the landmark Act.

“Perhaps nothing better symbolizes the deliberate tone-deafness of the current Republican-majority Congress than its refusal to pass – or even cosponsor – H.R. 6545,” said Casten. “The loudest, most persistent voices in our recent election were those of suburban women demanding change. When the new Congress is sworn in, the House will have a majority committed to responding to those voices, but the protections of the Violence Against Women Act cannot be allowed to expire in the meantime.” 

Rather than pass commonsense legislation to reauthorize and enhance the landmark VAWA, the current House Republican leadership has chosen to stonewall.  The Act’s broad range of programs to protect women and other vulnerable populations from domestic violence are on life support, being temporarily extended through stop-gap funding measures.

“One of my top priorities when I take the oath of office will be to press for passage of a VAWA reauthorization that extends and expands its protections.  But we cannot wait until a new Congress is seated to ensure that the help VAWA now provides is still there for the countless individuals who are victimized by domestic violence every day,” Casten concluded.