Marshall Joins Group Of Bipartisan Members In Reintroducing The Violence Against Women Health Act
Statement
This week Congressman Marshall, M.D. joined a group of bipartisan members in reintroducing H.R. 973, the Violence Against Women Health Act. This legislation builds on the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) by emphasizing efforts on behavioral health, adding a focus on early childhood programs, and utilizing existing resources for coordination between providers and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
"I am proud to support this important piece of legislation that takes the great work the VAWA program does and expands it to help even more women and families." Congressman Marshall said.
Since its enactment in 1994, the VAWA has funded programs for prevention of domestic violence and resources for victims of sexual assault such as rape crisis centers and hotlines. VAWA programs have also trained more than 13,000 health care providers to assess and respond to domestic and sexual violence. This bill would offer new opportunities to better assist providers and health care organizations so that they can offer the best patient-centered care.
"As a former sexual assault examiner, I know the importance of having trained medical staff to produce a sexual assault victim kit," Marshall said. "The proper preservation of sexual assault forensic evidence not only leads to justice but also helps providers learn how to better aid victims in their road to recovery. This is an issue I know all too well, and that is near and dear to my heart."
VAWA health related programs have expanded screening access to over 1.3 million patients who were victims of sexual assault.
The Violence Against Women Health Act has received broad support from organizations including the American Academy of Neurology, American Psychological Association, National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma & Mental Health, DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence, National Network to End Domestic Violence, and more. The bill would not add to the federal budget or require any additional spending authorizations.
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