Subject: Reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act
From: "Debbie Wasserman Schultz" <[email-masked]>
To: "Robert Biden" <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2012 08:13:23 -0400

The Democratic Party
-----------------------
Robert --

This week, the Senate may not reauthorize the Violence
Against Women Act.

Since this bipartisan legislation first passed in 1994, it's been
reauthorized twice without a hitch. And it's been
tremendously successful in helping to combat domestic
violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

So it should be a no-brainer, right? Not to the Senate GOP,
not in an election year, apparently.

Republicans are willing to throw away the entire law now
that it helps protect lesbians, gay men, undocumented
immigrants, and Native Americans. Do they believe acts of
violence committed against these groups don't matter as much?

The Senate's voting on the Act any moment now, and we need
to put pressure on the GOP to pass it.

Before the vote, stand with me for all victims of domestic
violence -- no matter who they are. Add your name in
support of reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act:

http://my.democrats.org/Reauthorize-the-Violence-Against-Women-Act5

Since this law passed, it has helped reduce the annual
rate of domestic violence by an astounding 53 percent. The
rate of women killed by an intimate partner has dropped 34
percent.

Its programs, including violence prevention programs,
shelters and rape crisis centers, and funding for the
investigation and prosecution of violent crimes have made a
world of difference in giving victims of violence a safe
place to turn.

It has without a doubt saved thousands of lives.

And Senate Republicans are ready to roll back all our
progress.

This year's Act would make sure that LGBT Americans receive
equal treatment for services, it would make it easier for
undocumented immigrants to come forward as victims and
provide temporary visas in certain cases, and let Native
Americans on reservations go to tribal courts for abuse
cases. With these additional protections, the GOP has
promised to fight it every step of the way.

If Congress votes against reauthorizing the Violence
Against Women Act, all of these programs could grind to a
halt, and the hundreds of thousands of women who rely on
them will once again be left on their own.

Unfortunately, the GOP's resistance is just another example
of putting women's health and well-being on the line in
order to score a few cheap, political points with their base.

We can't stand by and let them take away this critical
legislation.

Before the Senate votes this week, add your name in support
of protecting all victims of domestic and sexual violence,
no matter who they are:

http://my.democrats.org/Reauthorize-the-Violence-Against-Women-Act5

And keep an eye on when they do vote -- because we'll be
keeping the pressure on.

Thanks for your help,

Debbie

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Chair
Democratic National Committee

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