The National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence (NTF) is the leading organization advocating for the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) at each reauthorization, and for its initial passage in 1994. Until now, VAWA has always been a bipartisan effort. This year, NTF has been actively working with both parties in Congress to reauthorize VAWA before it is set to expire on September 30, 2018. Now, in light of the controversial confirmation process for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, NTF has sent a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee pointing out that the controversy demonstrates that the lessons of VAWA have not been learned.
The letter states: "we have grave concerns about the way the Senate Judiciary committee, under current leadership, has failed to demonstrate the lessons learned through the implementation of VAWA over the past twenty-four years. If the committee is not willing to engage in a process that upholds the dignity and safety of a person who has come forward to report that she was a victim of sexual assault, then they cannot pretend to care about the reauthorization of VAWA. We will only engage in discussions with those members of Congress committed to doing this work with integrity; with those who not only talk the talk, but also walk the walk—regardless of party."
Read the entire letter here.