Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization (Passed!)
In a nut shell the VAMA ACT has expired. A Reauthorization Bill has been passed by The House and gone to the Senate for voting. In the next 3 posts are a story on the Bill, Explanation of it and it's status and an email example you can send and were to send it. Sensenbrenner: House Approves Bipartisan Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Wed Sep 28, 7:21 PM ET To: National Desk Contact: Jeff Lungren or Terry Shawn, 202-225-2492, both of the Committee on the Judiciary WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The House today by a 415-to-4 margin approved bipartisan Justice Department authorization legislation that reauthorizes the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and implements much-needed reforms to the Department's grant programs. House Judiciary Committee Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. (R-Wis.) introduced H.R. 3402, which authorizes Justice Department programs for fiscal years 2006- 2009. Chairman Sensenbrenner commented, "This legislation contains common sense provisions designed to improve administration of programs and offices within the Department. H.R. 3402 eliminates duplication by consolidating the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant program and the Byrne grant program into one program with the same purposes and simplified administration. This legislation supports programs to combat domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking by reauthorizing some important core programs such as 'STOP' grants and grants to reduce campus violence. These programs have been successful in combating domestic and family violence." "The reauthorization of VAWA will continue the tradition of changing attitudes toward domestic violence and will expand its focus to change attitudes toward other violent crimes including dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The legislation also reauthorizes critical programs necessary to help protect the safety and security of Americans, while enabling Congress to properly exercise the vigorous oversight that the Constitution requires," added Chairman Sensenbrenner. Highlights of H.R. 3402 -- Authorizes appropriations for the Department of Justice for fiscal years 2006 through 2009 -- Implements reforms to the Department's grant programs -- Creates a privacy officer at the Justice Department who must report to Congress on alleged privacy violations by the Department -- Establishes an office to ensure grant money is used appropriately and to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse in grant programs -- Reauthorizes core programs from the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 and 2000 and makes improvements to those grant programs to enhance the ability to combat domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking -- Reauthorizes the STOP program, which provides state formula grants that help fund collaborative efforts between police and prosecutors and victim services providers -- Reauthorizes grants with the goal of police officers aggressively arresting abusers who commit acts of violence or violate protection orders -- Authorizes new grants to improve training for court officials and law enforcement. http://www.usnewswire.com/ -0- /© 2005 U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/ Yahoo News

H.R.3402 Title: To authorize appropriations for the Department of Justice for fiscal years 2006 through 2009, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. (introduced 7/22/2005) Cosponsors (19) Related Bills: H.RES.462 Latest Major Action: 9/30/2005 Received in the Senate. House Reports: 109-233 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jump to: Summary, Major Actions, All Actions, Titles, Cosponsors, Committees, Related Bill Details, Amendments, Summary -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: ***NONE*** -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MAJOR ACTIONS: (color indicates Senate actions) 7/22/2005 Introduced/originated in House 9/22/2005 Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 109-233. 9/28/2005 Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 415 - 4 (Roll no. 501). 9/30/2005 Received in the Senate. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ALL ACTIONS: (color indicates Senate actions) 7/22/2005: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. 7/27/2005: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held. 7/27/2005: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote. 9/22/2005 5:15pm: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 109-233. 9/22/2005 5:15pm: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 129. 9/27/2005 9:45pm: Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 462 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3402 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary now printed in the bill. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. 9/28/2005 12:47pm: Rule H. Res. 462 passed House. 9/28/2005 2:11pm: Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 462. (consideration: CR H8422-8432) 9/28/2005 2:12pm: House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 462 and Rule XVIII. 9/28/2005 2:12pm: The Speaker designated the Honorable Ray LaHood to act as Chairman of the Committee. 9/28/2005 3:07pm: Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 3402 as unfinished business. 9/28/2005 4:01pm: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H8433-8481; text of measure as reported in House: CR H8433-8465) 9/28/2005 4:02pm: The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration. 9/28/2005 4:03pm: H.AMDT.575 Amendment (A001) offered by Mr. Sensenbrenner. (consideration: CR H8466-8470; text: CR H8466-8467) Amendment to make various technical changes to the bill and reauthorizes the Secure our Schools grant program. 9/28/2005 4:38pm: H.AMDT.575 On agreeing to the Sensenbrenner amendment (A001) Agreed to by recorded vote: 225 - 191 (Roll no. 499). 9/28/2005 4:40pm: H.AMDT.576 Amendment (A003) offered by Mr. Cuellar. (consideration: CR H8470; text: CR H8470) Amendment to authorize appropriations of $10 million per year for the duration of the bill to provide for equipment, personnel, administrative, and technological costs. 9/28/2005 4:44pm: H.AMDT.576 On agreeing to the Cuellar amendment (A003) Agreed to by voice vote. 9/28/2005 4:44pm: H.AMDT.577 Amendment (A004) offered by Mr. Cuellar. (consideration: CR H8470-8471; text: CR H8470-8471) Amendment to authorize the FBI National Gang Intelligence Center. Adds $10 million in authorization for the Center for each fiscal year of the bill, mirroring the $10 million appropriation given in FY 2005. 9/28/2005 4:45pm: H.AMDT.577 On agreeing to the Cuellar amendment (A004) Agreed to by voice vote. 9/28/2005 4:46pm: H.AMDT.578 Amendment (A005) offered by Mr. Poe. (consideration: CR H8471-8472; text: CR H8471-8472) An amendment numbered 4 printed in House Report 109-236 to establish a fixed annual allocation for State victim assistance grants and OVC discretionary grants equal to the average amount allocated over the previous three years plus 5 percent. 9/28/2005 4:48pm: H.AMDT.578 By unanimous consent, the Poe amendment was withdrawn. 9/28/2005 4:48pm: H.AMDT.579 Amendment (A006) offered by Mr. Capuano. (consideration: CR H8472; text: CR H8472) Amendment to authorize the Attorney General, acting through the Bureau of Justice Assistance, to make grants to State and local prosecutors and law enforcement agencies in support of juvenile (17 years of age or younger) and young adult (between 18 and 21 years of age) witness assistance programs. 9/28/2005 4:49pm: H.AMDT.579 On agreeing to the Capuano amendment (A006) Agreed to by voice vote. 9/28/2005 4:49pm: H.AMDT.580 Amendment (A007) offered by Mr. Kennedy (MN). (consideration: CR H8472-8473; text: CR H8473) Amendment to provide a requirement that treatment under the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) program be available to those individuals who have passed a regularly administered drug- screening test for three months. The Amendment also provides that aftercare be provided to prisoners enrolled in the RSAT program as a component of comprehensive substance abuse treatment. 9/28/2005 4:52pm: H.AMDT.580 On agreeing to the Kennedy (MN) amendment (A007) Agreed to by voice vote. 9/28/2005 4:52pm: H.AMDT.581 Amendment (A008) offered by Ms. Brown-Waite, Ginny. (consideration: CR H8473-8474; text: CR H8473) Amendment to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to report to Congress on the correlation between a perpetrator's drug and alcohol abuse and the reported incidence of violence at domestic violence shelters. 9/28/2005 4:54pm: H.AMDT.581 On agreeing to the Brown-Waite, Ginny amendment (A008) Agreed to by voice vote. 9/28/2005 4:54pm: H.AMDT.582 Amendment (A009) offered by Ms. Slaughter. (consideration: CR H8474; text: CR H8474) An amendment numbered 8 printed in House Report 109-236 to require the Office of Victims of Crime working with national, state, and local authorities and in collaboration with other federal agencies to develop and implement a plan that allows law enforcement officials to gather evidence of a crime during times of emergency even if the crime occurred outside of their jurisdiction. Furthermore, it requires OVC to coordinate, inform, and educate victims, service providers, and law enforcement officials of the process and mechanisms available for reporting violent crimes and gathering evidence during emergencies. 9/28/2005 4:57pm: H.AMDT.582 By unanimous consent, the Slaughter amendment was withdrawn. 9/28/2005 4:57pm: H.AMDT.583 Amendment (A010) offered by Mr. Kolbe. (consideration: CR H8474-8476; text: CR H8474-8475) Amendment to reauthorize the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) through FY 2011 and would increase authorized funding to $750 million for FY06, $850 million for FY07, and $950 million for FY08-11. 9/28/2005 5:01pm: H.AMDT.583 On agreeing to the Kolbe amendment (A010) Agreed to by voice vote. 9/28/2005 5:01pm: H.AMDT.584 Amendment (A011) offered by Mr. King (IA). (consideration: CR H8476-8477; text: CR H8476) Amendment to prohibit a person convicted of domestic violence from sponsoring a visa applicant in the future. 9/28/2005 5:04pm: H.AMDT.584 On agreeing to the King (IA) amendment (A011) Agreed to by voice vote. 9/28/2005 5:04pm: H.AMDT.585 Amendment (A012) offered by Mr. Ryan (OH). (consideration: CR H8477; text: CR H8477) Amendment to provide additional federal funding for programs that have received grants by the Department of Justice (Office of Violence Against Women) for providing counseling and shelter for women and children in crisis pregnancies. 9/28/2005 5:06pm: H.AMDT.585 On agreeing to the Ryan (OH) amendment (A012) Agreed to by voice vote. 9/28/2005 5:07pm: H.AMDT.586 Amendment (A014) offered by Ms. Slaughter. (consideration: CR H8477-8478; text: CR H8477) Amendment to expand the current federal criminal ban on fake police badges and the misuse of authentic badges to include the uniforms, identification, and all other insignia of all public officials. 9/28/2005 5:07pm: H.AMDT.586 On agreeing to the Slaughter amendment (A014) Agreed to by voice vote. 9/28/2005 5:08pm: The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 3402. 9/28/2005 5:09pm: The House adopted the remaining amendments en gross as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. 9/28/2005 5:09pm: Mr. Stupak moved to recommit with instructions to Judiciary. (consideration: CR H8478-8480; text: CR H8478) 9/28/2005 5:43pm: On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 195 - 226 (Roll no. 500). 9/28/2005 5:51pm: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 415 - 4 (Roll no. 501). 9/28/2005 5:51pm: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. 9/28/2005 5:52pm: The Clerk was authorized to correct section numbers, punctuation, and cross references, and to make other necessary technical and conforming corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 3402. 9/30/2005: Received in the Senate. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TITLE(S): (italics indicate a title for a portion of a bill) POPULAR TITLE(S): Authorization bill FY2006-FY2009, Department of Justice (identified by CRS) Department of Justice FY2006-FY2009 Authorization bill (identified by CRS) SHORT TITLE(S) AS INTRODUCED: Department of Justice Appropriations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 2006 through 2009 Immigrant Victims of Violence Protection Act of 2005 STEP Act Supporting Teens through Education and Protection Act of 2005 Violence Against Women Act Court Training and Improvements Act of 2005 Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2005 OFFICIAL TITLE AS INTRODUCED: To authorize appropriations for the Department of Justice for fiscal years 2006 through 2009, and for other purposes. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- COSPONSORS(19), ALPHABETICAL : (Sort: by date) Rep Bachus, Spencer - 7/27/2005 Rep Brown-Waite, Ginny - 7/22/2005 Rep Cannon, Chris - 7/28/2005 Rep Coble, Howard - 7/22/2005 Rep Conyers, John, Jr. - 7/22/2005 Rep Gibbons, Jim - 7/28/2005 Rep Gohmert, Louie - 7/28/2005 Rep Green, Mark - 7/22/2005 Rep Jackson-Lee, Sheila - 7/28/2005 Rep Lofgren, Zoe - 7/26/2005 Rep Nadler, Jerrold - 7/28/2005 Rep Poe, Ted - 7/26/2005 Rep Pryce, Deborah - 7/28/2005 Rep Sanchez, Linda T. - 7/28/2005 Rep Schiff, Adam B. - 7/22/2005 Rep Scott, Robert C. - 7/28/2005 Rep Solis, Hilda L. - 7/22/2005 Rep Waters, Maxine - 9/20/2005 Rep Weiner, Anthony D. - 7/22/2005 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- COMMITTEE(S): Committee/Subcommittee: Activity: House Judiciary Referral, Markup, Reporting -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RELATED BILL DETAILS: (additional related bills may be indentified in Status) Bill: Relationship: H.RES.462 Rule related to H.R.3402 in House -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AMENDMENT(S): 1. H.AMDT.575 to H.R.3402 Amendment to make various technical changes to the bill and reauthorizes the Secure our Schools grant program. Sponsor: Rep Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. (introduced 9/28/2005) Cosponsors (None) Latest Major Action: 9/28/2005 House amendment agreed to. Status: On agreeing to the Sensenbrenner amendment (A001) Agreed to by recorded vote: 225 - 191 (Roll no. 499). 2. H.AMDT.576 to H.R.3402 Amendment to authorize appropriations of $10 million per year for the duration of the bill to provide for equipment, personnel, administrative, and technological costs. Sponsor: Rep Cuellar, Henry (introduced 9/28/2005) Cosponsors (None) Latest Major Action: 9/28/2005 House amendment agreed to. Status: On agreeing to the Cuellar amendment (A003) Agreed to by voice vote. 3. H.AMDT.577 to H.R.3402 Amendment to authorize the FBI National Gang Intelligence Center. Adds $10 million in authorization for the Center for each fiscal year of the bill, mirroring the $10 million appropriation given in FY 2005. Sponsor: Rep Cuellar, Henry (introduced 9/28/2005) Cosponsors (None) Latest Major Action: 9/28/2005 House amendment agreed to. Status: On agreeing to the Cuellar amendment (A004) Agreed to by voice vote. 4. H.AMDT.578 to H.R.3402 An amendment numbered 4 printed in House Report 109-236 to establish a fixed annual allocation for State victim assistance grants and OVC discretionary grants equal to the average amount allocated over the previous three years plus 5 percent. Sponsor: Rep Poe, Ted (introduced 9/28/2005) Cosponsors (None) Latest Major Action: 9/28/2005 By unanimous consent, the Poe amendment was withdrawn. 5. H.AMDT.579 to H.R.3402 Amendment to authorize the Attorney General, acting through the Bureau of Justice Assistance, to make grants to State and local prosecutors and law enforcement agencies in support of juvenile (17 years of age or younger) and young adult (between 18 and 21 years of age) witness assistance programs. Sponsor: Rep Capuano, Michael E. (introduced 9/28/2005) Cosponsors (None) Latest Major Action: 9/28/2005 House amendment agreed to. Status: On agreeing to the Capuano amendment (A006) Agreed to by voice vote. 6. H.AMDT.580 to H.R.3402 Amendment to provide a requirement that treatment under the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) program be available to those individuals who have passed a regularly administered drug- screening test for three months. The Amendment also provides that aftercare be provided to prisoners enrolled in the RSAT program as a component of comprehensive substance abuse treatment. Sponsor: Rep Kennedy, Mark R. (introduced 9/28/2005) Cosponsors (None) Latest Major Action: 9/28/2005 House amendment agreed to. Status: On agreeing to the Kennedy (MN) amendment (A007) Agreed to by voice vote. 7. H.AMDT.581 to H.R.3402 Amendment to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to report to Congress on the correlation between a perpetrator's drug and alcohol abuse and the reported incidence of violence at domestic violence shelters. Sponsor: Rep Brown-Waite, Ginny (introduced 9/28/2005) Cosponsors (None) Latest Major Action: 9/28/2005 House amendment agreed to. Status: On agreeing to the Brown-Waite, Ginny amendment (A008) Agreed to by voice vote. 8. H.AMDT.582 to H.R.3402 An amendment numbered 8 printed in House Report 109-236 to require the Office of Victims of Crime working with national, state, and local authorities and in collaboration with other federal agencies to develop and implement a plan that allows law enforcement officials to gather evidence of a crime during times of emergency even if the crime occurred outside of their jurisdiction. Furthermore, it requires OVC to coordinate, inform, and educate victims, service providers, and law enforcement officials of the process and mechanisms available for reporting violent crimes and gathering evidence during emergencies. Sponsor: Rep Slaughter, Louise McIntosh (introduced 9/28/2005) Cosponsors (None) Latest Major Action: 9/28/2005 By unanimous consent, the Slaughter amendment was withdrawn. 9. H.AMDT.583 to H.R.3402 Amendment to reauthorize the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) through FY 2011 and would increase authorized funding to $750 million for FY06, $850 million for FY07, and $950 million for FY08-11. Sponsor: Rep Kolbe, Jim (introduced 9/28/2005) Cosponsors (None) Latest Major Action: 9/28/2005 House amendment agreed to. Status: On agreeing to the Kolbe amendment (A010) Agreed to by voice vote. 10. H.AMDT.584 to H.R.3402 Amendment to prohibit a person convicted of domestic violence from sponsoring a visa applicant in the future. Sponsor: Rep King, Steve (introduced 9/28/2005) Cosponsors (None) Latest Major Action: 9/28/2005 House amendment agreed to. Status: On agreeing to the King (IA) amendment (A011) Agreed to by voice vote. 11. H.AMDT.585 to H.R.3402 Amendment to provide additional federal funding for programs that have received grants by the Department of Justice (Office of Violence Against Women) for providing counseling and shelter for women and children in crisis pregnancies. Sponsor: Rep Ryan, Tim (introduced 9/28/2005) Cosponsors (None) Latest Major Action: 9/28/2005 House amendment agreed to. Status: On agreeing to the Ryan (OH) amendment (A012) Agreed to by voice vote. 12. H.AMDT.586 to H.R.3402 Amendment to expand the current federal criminal ban on fake police badges and the misuse of authentic badges to include the uniforms, identification, and all other insignia of all public officials. Sponsor: Rep Slaughter, Louise McIntosh (introduced 9/28/2005) Cosponsors (None) Latest Major Action: 9/28/2005 House amendment agreed to. Status: On agreeing to the Slaughter amendment (A014) Agreed to by voice vote. Provided By Thomas.gov H.R. 3402

Email Example **Whom to send to is at the bottom of this post Dear Member of the Senate, As one of your constituents, I am writing to urge you to support the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). As you know, VAWA is set to expire this September. It is now called H.R.3402 Title: To authorize appropriations for the Department of Justice for fiscal years 2006 through 2009. VAWA was a giant step forward for our nation. Its passage meant that our federal government finally acknowledged that domestic and sexual violence cause tremendous harm to our society, and put real resources into helping victims. Millions of women, children and families are better off as a result. This historic measure increased options for victims and made it possible for many women to leave abusive relationships. It also improved the criminal justice system's response to violence by training police and prosecutors to respond more effectively. In 2000, Congress reauthorized VAWA, continuing this essential work and adding important services for immigrant, rural, disabled and older women. The evidence shows that VAWA is working; over the last decade, we have finally begun to make progress as domestic and sexual violence have begun to decline. But there is much work still to do. Each day in America, husbands or boyfriends murder an average of three women and more than 700 women are raped or sexually assaulted. Countless children witness this violence. The Violence Against Women Act of 2005 must build on past efforts and help prevent violence before it begins by targeting resources to children and youth who have been exposed to violence, and engaging men as allies in this work. And we must target many more resources to help some of our marginalized citizens, including immigrant and Native American women, who experience high rates of violence. It is time for Congress to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act and invest more resources into building healthy communities – for our children and their children. I encourage you to support the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act ,H.R. 3402, and thank you for your time and support. It is with the leadership and cooperation of people like yourself that we can truly make a difference in the lives of thousands of women and children. Sincerely, (your name) Thank you for taking action on this critical issue! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ To Locate your Senator use http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm It is easy to use and has drop down menus for quick results. Good luck everyone.

**Update** HR 3402 Status: 10/7/2005: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 109-162. Has been passed.