Congresswoman Cori Bush’s Amendments to the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act Pass the House of Representatives
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-01), released the following statement after the House passed the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2021. Congresswoman Cori Bush proposed two amendments to the legislation, both of which were passed by the House of Representatives.
Content Warning: Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Abuse
“Today and every day, I stand with the victims and survivors of domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking,” said Congresswoman Cori Bush. “As a survivor of domestic violence and sexual assault, I know the pain and fear that comes with abuse. In this country, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men will experience severe physical abuse from a partner. I was one of those women. I know the trauma of being left for dead by an abusive partner. With my vote today, I am standing up for myself and for every victim and survivor of domestic abuse across this country.
“The Violence Against Women Act is personal to me because I know the programs and services it funds are lifesaving. I’m proud to have successfully amended this bill so that survivors will be able to access the transitional housing they need to stay safe and rebuild their lives. I was evicted because of the violence a former partner committed against me and believe no person should lose housing due to crimes committed against them by abusers. As someone who has survived police violence, I’m proud that because of an amendment we made to this bill, data on sexual misconduct committed by law enforcement will be made public by the Attorney General. Reports have shown that an officer is accused of sexual misconduct every five days and that half of those incidents involve minors—and those are just the cases we know about because of independent research. Police sexual misconduct is the second most reported form of police violence and it is unacceptable. Our amendment will ensure that data shared with the Department of Justice will now be made public so we can better understand the gravity of this crisis and hold law enforcement accountable.
“Eradicating violence of every kind in this country is a fight that requires a commitment from every single person. I will continue to tell my story, I will continue to be a resource, and I will continue to stand up for people who have lost their lives as a result of intimate partner violence and those who have survived it. This is about getting justice for all of us.”
Congresswoman Cori Bush Introduced the following amendments to the Violence Against Women Act:
- Amendment #2: Ensures that survivors of domestic violence who seek help from the Office on Violence Against Women’s (OVW) transitional housing programs would be protected from unfair eviction. This helps ensure that survivors don’t lose housing due to crimes perpetrated against them by abusers.
- Amendment #3: Requires the Attorney General to release public reports on police sexual misconduct.
Both amendments passed the U.S. House of Representatives today.
If you or someone you love is experiencing domestic violence and need help, please call the National Domestic Violence hotline at 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) or visit the organization’s website.
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Congresswoman Cori Bush represents Missouri’s First Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. She serves on the House Judiciary Committee and the House Committee on Oversight and Reform. She is also a Deputy Whip of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and a proud member of the Congressional Black Caucus. She is a registered nurse, single mother, and an ordained pastor. Following the murder of Michael Brown Jr. by a now-terminated Ferguson police officer, she became a civil rights activist and community organizer fighting for justice for Black lives on the streets of Missouri and across the country.