Alaskan Congressman Don Young released the following statement today after voting for H.R. 4970, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2012 (VAWA) – a bill that would reauthorize VAWA grant programs and provide $660 million per year for domestic violence and abuse prevention programs:
“This is a crucially important bill especially for a state like Alaska where violence against women and children continues to devastate communities across the state. While not perfect, this VAWA reauthorization is very important to Alaska’s rural communities who struggle day in and day out with the evils of domestic violence - Alaska Native women represent 50 percent of the victims of domestic violence and 61 percent of the victims of sexual assault in our state.
“In particular, this bill is a step in the right direction for all women and children. By passing this bill, we are providing critical funding to all corners of our state with the goal of ending this epidemic. I look forward to working with my colleagues as this bill moves to Conference with the Senate to make sure this vital piece of legislation is signed into law.”
H.R. 4970 passed the House in a bipartisan vote of 222-205.
