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Summary

On October 28, 2000, President Clinton signed into law the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) of 2000 as Division B of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-386 (H.R. 3244)). VAWA 2000 reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act through FY2005, set new funding levels, and added new programs. The original Violence Against Women Act, enacted as Title IV of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act (P.L. 103-322 (H.R. 3355)), became law in 1994. For FY2004, President Bush requests $512.40 million for VAWA grant programs, $114.9 million below authorized levels and $7.58 million below FY2003 appropriations levels. The Administration seeks funding for the Safe Havens for Children Pilot Program, which is not authorized for FY2004. The President does not request funds for the Domestic Violence Task Force which is authorized for FY2004. Between FY1995 and FY1999, Congress steadily increased funding for most of VAWA's grant programs. In FY2001, Congress appropriated $408 million, prior to the mandated rescission, for the programs that were authorized through VAWA 2000. In FY2002 Congress appropriated $517.2 million for VAWA programs, $7 million more than the amount requested in the President's budget. VAWA established within the Departments of Justice (DOJ) and Health and Human Services (HHS), a number of discretionary grant programs for state, local, and Indian tribal governments. DOJ administers VAWA grants designed to aid law enforcement officers and prosecutors, encourage arrest policies, stem domestic violence and child abuse, establish and operate training programs for victim advocates and counselors, and train probation and parole officers who work with released sex offenders. Under HHS, grants include funds for battered women's shelters, rape prevention and education, reduction of sexual abuse of runaway and homeless street youth, and community programs on domestic violence. Several studies of violent crimes against women were also mandated. In addition to grants administered by the states, the act included a number of changes in federal criminal law relating to interstate stalking, intrastate domestic abuse, federal sex offense cases, the rules of evidence regarding use of a victim's past sexual behavior, and HIV testing in rape cases. VAWA 2000 reauthorized most of the original act's programs and created new grant programs to prevent sexual assaults on campuses, assist victims of violence with civil legal concerns, create transitional housing for victims of domestic abuse, and enhance protections for elderly and disabled victims of domestic violence. VAWA 2000, also, created a pilot program for safe custody exchange for families of domestic violence. Additionally, VAWA 2000 authorized a number of studies on the effects of violence against women, created a domestic violence task force, and included changes in the federal criminal law relating to interstate stalking and immigration.

Related Legislation:
• H.R.3244
• H.R.3355

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