Domestic violence or intimate partner abuse is an issue that has been affecting not only Montana but our nation as a whole. Statistics conclude that one in four women will experience domestic violence in some way throughout her lifetime and rates among Native American women is even higher. President Barack Obama signed the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 in February, with the newly added amendments plus one more: victims of sex trafficking. Montana Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester have supported the 2013 reauthorization. Baucus has been supporting the act since its birth in 1994. With the last reauthorization, Montana was able to put $4 million into services and programs that provided aid to victims of domestic violence and assault. This is so important for Montana because there are many women living in rural “unreachable” areas who are victims of domestic abuse. Extended travel time is not ideal when fleeing an abuser. With the inclusion of Native American women and women in rural areas, the new reauthorization act will be able to bring resources for those Montanans who did not have access before.Get the Story:
Desiree Gaines: Violence Against Women Act works (The Great Falls Tribune 5/3)
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