Legislative Background on Violence Against Women
Recent Action in the Congress on VAWA Reauthorization
In 1991, Anita Hill appeared before Congress to say that she had been subjected to sexual harassment by Clarence Thomas, who was then a Supreme Court nominee. The following year, which became known as “The Year of the Woman,” saw a record number of women elected to Congress, four in the Senate and 24 in the House. In 1993, then-Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Joseph Biden (DE-D) introduced the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Representative Louise Slaughter (NY-D) sponsored the House companion bill. In 1994, VAWA passed the House 235 to 195 and the Senate 61 to 38, and President Bill…
