Upton Aims For Reauthorization Of Violence Against Women Act

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washington-6

When President Trump last week signed a funding package to avoid another partial government shutdown, one thing that was not included was a re-authorization of the Violence Against Women Act. Congressman Fred Upton, a longtime supporter of the act, tells WSJM News it was removed last minute from the deal. Now, he expects action on just that issue. He says there is time.

“We have checked with many of our local shelters and a number of my colleagues,” Upton said. “It doesn’t actually stop the funding for these programs, which is important. It’s only the re-authorization which is tied to funding, but the dollars are continuing to flow.”

The 1994 Violence Against Women Act provides funding for a variety of anti-domestic violence programs that include shelters. Upton says the funding for existing programs will continue for the rest of the year without the re-authorization. The act was removed from last week’s deal when Democrats moved to put new provisions in. Upton says he expects independent action on it in the next few weeks. Whether the act is updated or kept as is, he doesn’t know.