Newsletters
Protecting Survivors of Domestic Violence
Washington,
March 22, 2021
Tags:
Protecting Women
Dear Friend,
Every single person in Orange County deserves to be safe. Elected officials should not only support survivors of domestic violence, but empower them. Last week, I proudly voted to renew the Violence Against Women Act, which helps protect survivors and those currently experiencing domestic violence. The bill included my proposal to incorporate “economic abuse” as a form of domestic violence. As a bankruptcy law expert, I’ve seen the consequences of financial abuse inflicted by former partners. Many abusers use debt to exercise coercive control. Others cut off access to financial information to keep their partners in a state of financial dependence. Economic abuse is domestic violence.
On Wednesday, the House reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act, which includes my provision to integrate the term “economic abuse” throughout the legislation. In addition to recognizing the devastation of economic abuse, the Violence Against Women Act supports key programs that provide resources to families, including survivor assistance, foster prevention initiatives, and aid for survivors of sexual assault. It also helps families move to safe housing. The Violence Against Women Act passed the House in 2019, but the Senate failed to act. I am hopeful that the Senate will finally move this legislation forward, so that the President can sign these key protections into law.
Katie Porter |
