Violence Against Women Policy Trends Report 2 October 20, 2000 David M. Heger National Violence Against Women Prevention Research Center University of Missouri - St. Louis Political Analyst The Violence Against Women Act of 2000 Passes Congress On October 11, 2000, violence prevention activists could finally breathe a sigh of relief as the Violence Against Women Act of 2000 (VAWA ’00) received final congressional approval by passing the Senate (95-0). Recognizing that members of Congress were anxious to finish the year’s already overdue legislative business and hit the campaign trail, supporters of VAWA ’00 lobbied intensely for the measure’s passage in the early days of October. This flurry of Capitol Hill activity culminated in a rally to end violence against women sponsored by the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women. At the event, held on the morning of October 11, the National Advisory Council on Violence Against Women issued Ending Violence Against Women – An Agenda for the Nation, a report providing a framework for ending violent acts against women through a coordinated effort of a diverse group of stakeholders. Both Republican and Democrat politicians expressed their pleasure at completing work on the VAWA ’00, though some openly regretted that partisan wrangling had held up the important legislation for so long. "Today is a great day for American families . . . I’m sorry that it has taken until the end of Congress to get this bill done," Senator Orin Hatch (R-Utah) said moments before lawmakers approved the bill. Also during eleventh-hour debate, Democrat Senators Joseph Biden (Delaware) and Charles Schumer (New York) made significant appeals to fellow lawmakers to pass the VAWA ’00. Most advocacy groups reported being pleased overall with the final measure, which provides more than double the funding allotted by the original act, the Violence Against Women Act of 1994. The new legislation authorizes $3.3 billion over the next five years and includes money for STOP grants, shelters, transitional housing, legal services for victims, programs on college campuses, and services for disabled victims. President Clinton, who has pushed Congress to pass the VAWA ’00 for months, is expected to sign the legislation into law as soon as it reaches his desk. Other Federal News Almost three weeks into fiscal year 2001 work remains on four of the thirteen annual appropriations bills that federal lawmakers must enact to keep the government running. Among these four measures awaiting congressional approval are the two that fund the Departments of Commerce, Justice, State, Labor, Education, and Health and Human Services. On October 19, Congress was forced to pass its fourth "continuing resolution" bill to fund the government through October 25 while legislators continue to hack out differences on the 2001 federal budget. President Clinton has publicly expressed his frustration with this year’s prolonged budget process and has indicated that he will no longer approve such extended temporary funding measures passed by Congress. Most political analysts agree that last-minute budget deals between Republican and Democrat lawmakers will be made away from the public eye and are likely to produce several "riders," or very narrow provisions attached to unrelated measures, that members of the public will probably not fully understand until they become laws. The Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF) recently released Health Privacy Principles for Protecting Victims of Domestic Violence, a paper offering "recommendations for policy makers, advocates, health care providers, insurance companies and others to help ensure the privacy of health care records and protect battered women who seek medical care." A press release issued by the FVPF notes that women facing domestic violence may avoid seeking medical attention because of possible insurance and employment discrimination. Before the end of the year, Health and Human Services Department Secretary Donna Shalala is expected to issue a regulation on confidentiality for health insurance information. A record number of women could be elected to state and federal office on November 7, according to a recent article in The Christian Science Monitor. However, the same article points out that political gains for women have slowed since 1992, "The Year of the Woman." State Policy State legislative activity remains low in mid-October, as a great majority of states have adjourned for the year. Only lawmakers in Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania remain engaged in executive session activity. Interim policy work has given way, in most cases, to the furious pace of campaigning for the November elections. Although most legislatures have wrapped up business this year, some work remains for state governors who still must consider legislation passed by state lawmakers in 2000. New York Governor George Pataki (R) recently signed into law a measure that addresses sexual offenses. The new law establishes a 24-hour sexual assault forensic examiner program, consecutive sentences for crimes involving "date-rape" drugs, and a new law aimed at repeat sexual offenders. Continuing a trend kicked off in Vermont at the beginning of 0ctober (see Trend Report 1), more states are protecting their citizens by establishing toll-free domestic violence hotlines. In response to a report of increased domestic violence-related deaths in Massachusetts, Governor Paul Cellucci (R) unveiled SafeLink, which offers several support services for abused women, including immediate information about the closest available shelter space. Governor Cellucci also announced the distribution of new posters to encourage teens involved in abusive relationships to seek help. Minnesota women will benefit from a new statewide Domestic Violence Crisis Line that routes callers to the closest available shelter. The line is managed by Day One, a partnership of 22 Minnesota shelters, and is funded by a federal grant and a contribution from Verizon Wireless. Last week, Stateline.org reported on welfare reform in Ohio, one of the states that has opted for time limits on assistance stricter than federal law. Because the Buckeye State imposed a three-year cap on welfare payments in 1997, 3,800 families that had been receiving federal assistance did not get a welfare check this month, according to the article. Federal welfare reform law allows states to exempt some recipients from time limits due to certain hardships, including battering. However, some violence prevention advocates continue to argue that time limits impose difficulties on indigent women who are abused because they may be reluctant to disclose their experience of abuse to state welfare officials.