U.S. Senate: Renew the Violence against Women Act

Theis article discusses the view that the U.S. Senate should renew the Violence against Women Act (VAWA) when it voted on the measure in March 2012. The act is the primary federal law providing legal protection and services to counter domestic and sexual violence and stalking. Approval will maintain critical programs and improve legal protection against violence. The bill would also require the Department of Homeland Security to issue regulations to prevent sexual abuse in immigration detention centers. Despite clear congressional intent to cover immigration detention centers under the Prison Rape Elimination Act, proposed regulations currently exempt immigration detention facilities from any responsibilities under the Act.