{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.cramer.senate.gov/sen-cramer-helps-introduce-violence-against-women-reauthorization-act-2019", "Sen. Cramer Helps Introduce Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2019", "2019-11-20", "2019", "2019-11", "Republican", "House", "ND", "Kevin Cramer", "C001096", "www.cramer.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) with Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) helped introduce theViolence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2019 (VAWA)today.\n \nThis is an important issue to me and my family, and I am dedicated to promoting policies ensuring a safeguard for victims of domestic abuse,said Senator Cramer.This version of theViolence Against Women Actprovides funding for programs aimed at preventing domestic violence and supportingvictims, and it includes important measures to address these issues in rural areas and on tribal lands. I thank Senator Ernst for her leadership, and I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting it.\n \n \nAs a survivor and someone who worked at a victim's shelter during my time in college, I have a clear understanding of how vital it is for survivors to have resources and support in what can be some of the darkest times of their lives,said Senator Joni Ernst. Reauthorizing VAWA shouldn't be a partisan issuewe should be putting the wellbeing of women and children of sexual and domestic violence first. That's what this bill does; it's a practical solution that focuses on survivors, not politics. Our bill will dramatically increase resources for survivors, punish abusers, and provide greater support for our rural communities in Iowa and across the country. I'm optimistic that my colleaguesRepublican and Democratwill join me in getting this vitally important bill signed into law.\n \nThis version of VAWA includes important legislation previously introduced by Senator Cramer and fellow senators, includingthe CREEPS Act, which gives federal agencies the authority to remove an employee convicted of sexual assault or found to have committed such an offense while employed by the federal government. It also includes Savanna's Act, whichtheSenatorhelped introduceearlier this year.\nSenator Cramerhas beenaconsistent supporter of similar Violence Against Women Act legislation since serving in the House of Representatives. Additionally,this bill:\n \n\tRecognizes sex trafficking as a form of sexual assault.\n\tBolsters housing protections available to victims and improves current funding priorities to ensure transitional housing is a more viable option for family violence victims.\n\tProvides funding for law enforcement on Indian Lands, as well as flexibility for the Bureau of Indian Affairs to help get more officers into the field.\n\tExpands tribal criminal jurisdiction for domestic violence while mandating tribal criminal justice systems provide non-Native Americans with all Constitutionally enumerated rights.\n\tCreates an innovation fund for the Office on Violence Against Women to address emerging VAWA-related issues.\n\tEnhances criminal penalties for sexual abuse of a minor, sexual abuse of a ward, abusive sexual contact with a child under 12 years of age, and interstate domestic violence.\n\tMakes it illegal for an individual  acting in a law enforcement capacity  from engaging in a sexual act with someone who is under arrest or in detention and incentivizes states to do the same.\n \nSenators Cramer and Ernst were joined in introducing this legislation by Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), John Cornyn (R-TX), Shelley Moore-Capito (R-WV), Marco Rubio (R-TX), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), John Hoeven (R-ND), and David Perdue (R-GA).\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.cramer.senate.gov/sen-cramer-helps-introduce-violence-against-women-reauthorization-act-2019"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8743011858314276, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}