Domestic violence isn't limited to just men and women. It affects children, too.
That's what Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., said at a press event April 25 as Congress takes on the task of renewing the Violence Against Women Act — legislation that has enjoyed widespread, bipartisan support since it first passed in 1994. At the event, Capito told the story of Jahlil Clements, the 11-year-old Malden boy who was killed by a passing vehicle as he was trying to flag down help for his mother, who was being beaten by a boyfriend inside her vehicle.
"It was tremendously tragic and sad," Capito said of Clement's death. "He was a wonderful student with a lot of friends. These types of crimes show that it isn't about a man and a woman — it's a whole family."
The Violence Against Women Act, introduced in 1994 by then-Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., is credited with helping to decrease the number of women who fall victim to domestic violence. According to Attorney General Eric Holder, the number of women killed by their partner between 1993 and 2010 decreased 30 percent while the annual rates of domestic violence against women has decreased by two-thirds.
"These statistics are extraordinary," Holder said at an April 18 White House event. "They speak to the effectiveness of this important law … in strengthening the criminal justice response to violence against women; in improving access to essential services for victims of these crimes; and in directly combating a problem so widespread that one study suggests it affects roughly one in four women—and one in 13 men—at some point during their lifetimes."
The path that led to the passage of the Violence Against Women Act started in 1990. That's when Congress began hearing testimony from a variety of witnesses, including state attorneys general, law enforcement, prosecutors, legal scholars and victims of sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking, among others. Congress passed VAWA in 1994, creating new federal interstate domestic violence, stalking and firearms crimes, strengthening federal penalties for repeat sex offenders and requiring states and territories to honor protective orders issued by other states. It also established legal relief for immigrant victims that prevented abusers from using immigration laws to control victims.
The legislation also established a national toll-free help line — something Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., is confident has helped millions of victims.
"I know that it saved lives," she said. "One in four women will be victims of domestic violence in their lifetimes and 16 million children will be caught up in domestic violence."
Capito said renewing the law is important so mothers—and all women—can be ensured quick access to domestic violence programs when they're needed most. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., spoke on the Senate floor April 26, saying that no political ideological differences should keep the renewal bill from passing.
No points of the controversy surrounding passage of the bill "are important enough to prevent passage of this legislation," he said, adding that women should be allowed to live without fear of violence.
The Senate is on track to pass its version of the renewal bill as early as Thursday evening. House Republicans are drafting their own proposal, which is expected to come up for vote within the next few weeks.
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