Blumenthal Applauds House Reauthorization of Violence Against Women Act

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) applauded the House of Representatives’ reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), legislation designed to support and protect survivors of domestic and gender-based violence and sexual assault. The House-passed legislation includes provisions from the Lori Jackson Domestic Violence Survivor Protection Act, legislation Blumenthal introduced with U.S. Representative Jim Himes (D-CT) to close the dangerous loopholes in federal law that allow domestic abusers to legally obtain weapons if they are subject to a temporary – not permanent – restraining order.

“This landmark legislation provides meaningful resources to protect and help domestic and gender-based violence victims and survivors—and it saves lives,” Blumenthal said. “It enables victim advocates to expand outreach and services to help those in need, and gives law enforcement agencies better tools to protect victims of this kind of egregious violence. I applaud my colleagues in the House for reauthorizing this important law, and for including provisions I’ve long fought for to ban domestic violence abusers from getting access to a gun.”

“After the Republican-controlled Senate refused to bring it up for a vote in the last Congress, we must now swiftly follow in the House’s footsteps to pass the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act with these essential provisions. With domestic violence surging in our country, we need to honor the survivors and victims of domestic violence like Lori Jackson, with action.”

The lawmakers announced the Lori Jackson Domestic Violence Survivor Protection Act at a virtual press call on Tuesday, March 16, with U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), Lori’s mother, Merry Jackson, and Connecticut domestic violence prevention groups. The bill is named in memory of Lori Jackson, an Oxford, Connecticut mother of two who was tragically shot and killed by her estranged husband, who had legally obtained a handgun even though he was subject to a temporary restraining order.

The Lori Jackson Domestic Violence Survivor Protection Act is cosponsored in the Senate by U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Bob Casey (D-PA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Patty Murray (D-WA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).

The Lori Jackson Domestic Violence Survivor Protection Act is supported by a number of advocacy and support groups, including National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Everytown for Gun Safety, Giffords, Brady, Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, Newtown Action Alliance, Sandy Hook Promise, and the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV).

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