[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 39 (Monday, October 2, 2000)]
[Pages 2231-2232]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Letter to Congressional Leaders on the Need for Reauthorization of the 
Violence Against Women Act

September 27, 2000

Dear Mr. Leader:

    I am writing to urge you to bring the reauthorization of the 
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) to the Senate floor this week. This 
bill is a top priority for my Administration.
    An estimated 900,000 women suffer violence at the hands of an 
intimate partner each year, demonstrating the urgent need for this 
legislation. Since VAWA was enacted, the Departments of Justice and 
Health and Human Services have awarded approximately $1.6 billion in 
Federal grants to support the work of prosecutors, law enforcement 
officials, the courts, victim advocates, health care and social service 
professionals, and intervention and prevention programs in order to 
combat violence against women. We must reauthorize these critical 
programs immediately.
    As you know, yesterday, the House overwhelmingly passed VAWA 
reauthorization by a vote of 415-3. In the Senate, VAWA has similar 
bipartisan support with over 70 cosponsors. If Congress does not act 
this week, however, VAWA's authorization will expire on September 30, 
2000. The Senate should not delay, and I urge you to pass a freestanding 
version of the Biden-Hatch VAWA reauthorization bill this week. The 
women and families whose lives have been scarred by domestic violence 
deserve nothing less than immediate action by the Congress.
     Sincerely,
                                            William J. Clinton

Note: Letters were sent to Richard K. Armey, House majority leader, and 
Trent Lott, Senate majority leader. An original was not available for 
verification of the content of this letter.

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