On Thursday, February 28, the House voted to approve the already passed Senate version of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) which, though not perfect and despite the fact that overseas Americans were absent from the act, did not include last-minute tweaks that could have seriously weakened it.
Following the 236 to 138 vote, the bill now heads for the White House and President Obama's signature.
While overall VAWA funding was down since its last reauthorization in 2005 and, despite calls from FAWCO and its long-standing partner organization AODVC, funding was still not included for victims of domestic violence overseas, its passage in today's Congress must be seen as a victory for women's rights.
Click here for the full article in the February 28 Washington Post.