Today, Representative Adriano Espaillat released the following statement in support of H.R. 1620, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2021.
A landmark bill that ushered in transformative progress to protect all Americans from violence and abuse.
VAWA continues to provide essential support to victims, survivors, and communities to ensure they have the legal tools and resources necessary to seek justice and receive care.
Watch Rep. Espaillat’s floor remarks.
“Since 1994, American women who are victims of domestic abuse, sexual harassment and other crimes, have been protected by the Violence Against Women Act signed by President Bill Clinton twenty-seven years ago,” said Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13). “Because of VAWA, domestic violence survivors have been able to obtain protective orders at designated courthouses and stand up against their abusers. This legislation proves to be crucial for the well-being and health of the women in our society who suffer domestic abuse and seek protection and justice without fear, and it never should have been allowed to lapse.
“Specifically, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2021 closes the boyfriend loophole and ensures that stalkers cannot possess firearms. I am proud to support the reauthorization of this vital bill in honor of Gladys Ricart, a dear constituent of mine who twenty-two years ago was murdered by her ex-boyfriend on her wedding day. Domestic violence affects women without prejudice or regard to their economic background, race, education or where they live, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill in the memory of all individuals who have been impacted by intimate partner violence.”
Representative Espaillat is the first Dominican American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and his congressional district includes Harlem, East Harlem, West Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill, and the north-west Bronx.
First elected to Congress in 2016, Representative Espaillat is serving his third term in Congress. Representative Espaillat currently serves as a member of the influential U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for funding the federal government’s vital activities.
He is also a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), where he serves as the Second Vice-Chair and is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, where he serves as Deputy Whip.
Representative Espaillat also currently serves as a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus.
To find out more about Rep. Espaillat, visit online at https://espaillat.house.gov/.
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