The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) has become a lightning rod in a divided Congress — and that has many on-the-ground providers on edge.
Last week, two months after the House let it lapse, the House of Representatives voted to renew the landmark legislation — with many Republicans voting against it. Now, House Democrats’ version moves to the Senate, where several liberal amendments may doom its passage.
Tasha Menaker is co-chief executive officer with the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence, and she says VAWA allocates essential funding to programs for law enforcement, prosecutors, victims service providers and to their coalition so they can adequately respond to crimes and provide services to survivors.
The Show talked with Menaker about how all of this back-and-forth in Congress has affected their work on the ground in Arizona.
