TELL SENATE TO PASS HOUSE VERSION OF THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT (VAWA)
Last week the House reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) after Congress allowed its expirations in the last shutdown. By an overwhelming vote, including 33 Republicans and the entire Oregon delegation, the House passed a broader VAWA that would:
- Expand financial aid so that domestic violence victims can stay in their homes
- Increase punishment for cyberbullying
- Allow transgender women to use women’s shelters and serve in women’s prisons
- Facilitate criminal database sharing between federal, state and tribal authorities
- Forbid federal law enforcement officers to have sex – consensual or not — while in the course of their official duties
- Add texts to National Domestic Violence Hotline’s repertoire
- Ban all firearms purchases by intimate partners convicted of abuse or stalking
The gun ban has raised Senate leadership protests, despite knowing that the presence of a gun in a domestic dispute increases the risk of death more than 500 percent.
Although VAWA has expired, the program will continue to issue approximately $1 billion in grants annually through 2024. Not good enough. We can’t have a legally vulnerable VAWA.
Push the Senate to Reauthorize VAWA!
NOW!
**ACTION ONE: CALL OUR SENATORS**
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR SENATORS WYDEN AND MERKLEY:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [town/city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling because…
. . . The Violence Against Women Act is very important to me. The House was able to pass a bipartisan bill. Thirty-three Republicans supported all of the improvements, including a ban on firearms purchases by intimate partners convicted for abuse or stalking. I ask the Senator to not let this bipartisan work go in vain. Please work hard for passage of the House bill in the Senate.
Thank you.”
SENATOR RON WYDEN
Portland: (503) 326-7525, DC: (202) 224-5244
Salem: (503) 589-4555, Eugene: (541) 431-0229
Medford: (541) 858-5122, Bend: (541) 330-9142
La Grande: (541) 960-7691
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/contact/
SENATOR JEFF MERKLEY
Portland: (503) 326-3386, DC: (202) 224-3753
Salem: (503) 362-8102, Eugene: (541) 465-6750
Medford: (541) 608-9102, Bend: (541) 318-1298
Pendleton: (541) 278-1129
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/contact/
**ACTION TWO: CALL COMPLICIT GREG WALDEN**
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR WALDEN:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [town/city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling because . . .
. . . I want to thank Greg Walden for voting to support the Violence Against Women Act. This legislation is very important to me. I am thrilled to see bipartisan support. Please ask Greg to use his influence to secure its passage in the Senate.
Thank you.”
COMPLICIT GREG WALDEN
DC (202) 225-6730, Medford: (541) 776-4646
Bend (541) 389-4408, La Grande (541) 624-2400
https://walden.house.gov/contact-greg/email-me
**ACTION THREE: BE AN ACTIVIST**
Visit the ORD2 Indivisible Event Calendar on a regular basis to keep updated on our local activities. Participate with us as often as you can. Check out the following:
Non-ORD2 Indivisible Sponsored Event: “Awakening the Dreamer” – Grants Pass
April 13 @ 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/non-ord2-indivisible-sponsored-event-awakening-the-dreamer-grants-pass/
ORD2 Indivisible Teach and Greet – Let’s Get Kids Out of Those Cages – Talent
April 14 @ 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/ord2-indivisible-teach-and-greet-lets-get-kids-out-of-those-cages-talent/
Earth Day Rally – Medford
April 22 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/earth-day-rally-medford/
SUBMIT EVENTS TO BE ADDED TO THE ORD2 INDIVISIBLE EVENT CALENDAR
Help us keep current with our event postings. https://ord2indivisible.org/submit-your-event/