Murray Introduces Legislation Guaranteeing Financial Protections to Victims of Abuse

Press Release

Bill introduced on first day of Domestic Violence Awareness Month would extend financial protections to victims of abuse, end insurance company discrimination

Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash) introduced legislation with Senators Sherrod Brown and Chris Dodd to ensure that victims of domestic violence have the financial means to escape abusive relationships. The Security and Financial Empowerment Act (SAFE Act) would make a number of changes in federal law to ensure that victims of domestic violence have the ability to leave their abusers, support themselves and their families while they seek help, and are not discriminated against or penalized simply for being abused.

Murray's reintroduction of the SAFE Act comes as Congress debates health insurance reform. Murray has long insisted that we reform the insurance industry to end the practice of considering domestic abuse to be a pre-existing condition. Her efforts to reform the system in the HELP Committee were voted down by Republicans in 2006, but the health care reform bill that passed the Committee in late July does include language that would end the practice.

"For too long domestic violence victims have been victimized twice -- first by their abusers and then again by financial and insurance constraints that punish them for their abusers' crimes. The SAFE Act will help domestic violence victims break the financial chains that bind them to their abusers," Senator Murray said. "As we work to reform our health care system to eliminate discriminatory practices against victims of domestic violence, we also need to look at the larger financial system and ensure that no victim ever has to choose between personal safety and economic security."

Senator Murray has spent years in the Senate fighting for awareness of and protection for victims of domestic violence.

Senator Murray first introduced legislation that would provide financial protections to victims of abuse in 2001. She reintroduced similar bills in 2003. 2005, and 2007.

Murray also introduced an amendment in 2006 that would have prohibited insurance companies from discriminating against victims of domestic violence, but this was defeated in committee when ten Republicans voted against it. This amendment was introduced at a hearing of the HELP Committee considering the Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act.

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