*Administration of Barack Obama, 2013 *

**Statement on Senate Passage of Legislation To Prevent Violence Against Women **

*February 12, 2013 *

Today the Senate passed a strong bipartisan bill to reauthorize and strengthen the Violence Against Women Act. This important step shows what we can do when we come together across party lines to take up a just cause. The bill passed by the Senate will help reduce homicides that occur from domestic violence, improve the criminal justice response to rape and sexual assault, address the high rates of dating violence experienced by young women, and provide justice to the most vulnerable among us. I want to thank Senator Leahy and his colleagues from both sides of the aisle for the leadership they have shown on behalf of victims of abuse. It's now time for the House to follow suit and send this bill to my desk so that I can sign it into law.

NOTE: The statement referred to S. 47.

*Categories:* Statements by the President : Violence against women, Senate passage of legislation to prevent*.*

*Names:* Leahy, Patrick J.

*Subjects:* Congress : Bipartisanship; Law enforcement and crime : Domestic violence; Law enforcement and crime : Sexual assault; Legislation, proposed : "Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013".

*DCPD Number:* DCPD201300089.