Senate backs reauthorization of Violence Against Women Act

Friday, April 27, 2012  

The Senate voted 61-31 on Thursday to pass S.1925, a bill to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act.

The bill recognizes tribal authority over non-Indians who commit domestic violence offenses. The provision has been controversial among Republicans.

“It was encouraging to see our leaders in the Senate put aside partisan politics and pass a bill that protects and serves all victims of domestic and sexual violence across the country—including our Native sisters, mothers, and daughters," Jefferson Keel, the president of the National Congress of American Indians said in a press release. "Today’s vote on the VAWA reauthorization represents a historic vote for Native people and tribal sovereignty.

The bill, however, excludes Alaska tribes from the same provision. But Alaska tribes will still have authority over civil protection orders under an amendment that approved yesterday.

Attention now turns to the Republican-led House, where a different version of the bill -- without any of the tribal provisions -- will be considered.

Get the Story:
VAWA Passes Senate With Major Tribal Court Provisions; Status Quo for Alaska Natives (Indian Country Today 4/26)
Violence Against Women Act reauthorization bill passed by Senate (The Washington Post 4/26)
Amendment lets Alaska tribes keep restraining-order powers (The Anchorage Daily News 4/27)
Senate Votes to Reauthorize Domestic Violence Act (The New York Times 4/27)

Related Stories:
Tulalip Tribes vice chair pushes for reauthorization of VAWA (4/26)
Sen. Tom Udall floor statement on tribes and VAWA measure (4/26)
Obama administration against Alaska tribal VAWA exclusion (4/26)
APRN: Alaska Natives angry about exclusion from VAWA bill (4/26)
APRN: Alaska Natives angry about exclusion from VAWA bill (4/26)
No explanation for Alaska Native exclusion from VAWA bill (4/25)
White House reaffirms support for tribal provisions in VAWA (4/24)
Alaska Natives excluded from tribal jurisdiction in VAWA bill (4/24)
Opinion: GOP roadblock to the Violence Against Women Act (4/23)
Speech by Attorney General Eric Holder at VAWA event (4/18)
Sho-Ban leader joins Vice President Biden at VAWA event (4/16)
Editorial: Set aside politics for Violence Against Women Act (03/22)
Blog: Senate Republicans fight Violence Against Women Act (3/21)
Democrats push for action on Violence Against Women Act (3/15)
Opinion: Violence Against Women Act helps Indian women (3/15)
Turtle Talk: Republicans fighting Indian provisions in VAWA (3/12)
Rep. Betty McCollum co-sponsors SAVE Native Women Act (3/8)
Sen. Hatch opposes bill provisions to protect Native women (3/7)