By a margin of 244 to 172, the U. S. House of Representatives voted to reauthorize the bipartisan Violence Against Women Act, which had lapsed in 2019. The renewed VAWA makes important changes that will strengthen prevention measures and support for survivors, aim to reduce gun violence that targets women, and direct additional resources and protections to the most marginalized communities.
Some of those who voted against the measure sided with the NRA, which opposes a simple common-sense fix to current law that aims to keep firearms out of the hands of domestic violence abusers. Others opposed it because it did not include anti-discrimination protections for transgender women. Four New York State Representatives were among those who voted against the VAWA reauthorization,
