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Summary

The Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005 (VAWA 2005) (P.L. 109-162) was enacted on January 5, 2006. Among other things, VAWA 2005 reauthorized existing VAWA programs and created many new programs. The act encourages collaboration among law enforcement, judicial personnel, and public and private service providers to victims of domestic and sexual violence; increases public awareness of domestic violence; addresses the special needs of victims of domestic and sexual violence, including the elderly, disabled, children, youth, and individuals of ethnic and racial communities; authorizes longterm and transitional housing for victims; makes some provisions gender-neutral; and requires studies and reports on the effectiveness of approaches used for certain grants in combating violence. VAWA programs are funded through annual appropriations for both the Departments of Justice (DOJ) and Health and Human Services (HHS). For FY2009, the House Appropriations Committee has approved a draft bill that recommends $435 million for VAWA programs administered by DOJ, as compared to the Senate Appropriations Committee report recommendation of $415 million. For FY2009, as for FY2008, the Administration requests $280 million for a proposed new program, the Prevention and Prosecution of Violence Against Women and Related Victim Services Program, which would consolidate VAWA grant programs administered by DOJ. Senate Appropriations Committee report language, however, rejects the proposed program. For FY2009 funding of programs administered by HHS, the Senate Appropriations Committee recommends $125 million for family violence prevention and services programs (including battered women's shelters) and $3.5 million for the national domestic violence hotline. The House Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittee recommends $130.5 million and $2.9 million, respectively, for these programs; however, the full Appropriations Committee has not yet acted on the subcommittee's recommendation. Bills have been introduced in the 110th Congress that would prohibit insurance discrimination against victims of domestic violence as well as provide leave, unemployment compensation, and treatment for them. The original VAWA, enacted in 1994 as Title IV of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act (P.L. 103-322), established within DOJ and HHS discretionary grant programs for state, local, and Indian tribal governments. The Violence Against Women Act of 2000 (VAWA 2000; P.L. 106-386), reauthorized many VAWA programs, set new funding levels, and created new grant programs to address sexual assaults on campuses and assist victims of domestic abuse. The Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-36) and the PROTECT Act (P.L. 108-21) authorized funding of both HHS and DOJ transitional housing assistance programs for victims of domestic violence. This report will be updated to reflect legislative activity.

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