THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release September 27, 2000
TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
TO THE HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER
AND THE SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADER
Dear Mr. Leader:
I am writing to urge you to bring the reauthorization of the Violence
Against Women Act (VAWA) to the Senate floor this week. This bill is a top
priority for my Administration.
An estimated 900,000 women suffer violence at the hands of an intimate
partner each year, demonstrating the urgent need for this legislation.
Since VAWA was enacted, the Departments of Justice and Health and Human
Services have awarded approxi-mately $1.6 billion in Federal grants to
support the work of prosecutors, law enforcement officials, the courts,
victim advocates, health care and social service professionals, and
intervention and prevention programs in order to combat violence against
women. We must reauthorize these critical programs immediately.
As you know, yesterday, the House overwhelmingly passed VAWA
reauthorization by a vote of 415-3. In the Senate, VAWA has similar
bipartisan support with over 70 cosponsors. If Congress does not act this
week, however, VAWA?s authorization will expire on September 30, 2000. The
Senate should not delay, and I urge you to pass a freestanding version of
the Biden-Hatch VAWA reauthorization bill this week. The women and
families whose lives have been scarred by domestic violence deserve nothing
less than immediate action by the Congress.
Sincerely,
WILLIAM J. CLINTON
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