Since being elected to the U.S. Senate in 2010, Florida Senator Marco Rubio (R) has been one of the leading voices in support of measures to combat human trafficking and domestic violence.
Rubio, along with half a dozen or so Republicans, introduced the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, a proposal that will not only reauthorize the measure but modernize it.
“I am proud to join my colleagues in this important effort to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act,” Rubio said. “This bill would increase funding and provide a 10 year authorization for critical grant programs to prevent and respond to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking, as well as support for victims. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to reach consensus on a path forward to reauthorize this important legislation to protect and empower women.”
Here is what Rubio’s proposal does:
- Robustly increases the amount of resources to victims
- Holistically addresses female genital mutilation
- Bolsters housing protections available to victims
- Enhances criminal penalties for child sexual abuse
- Empowers victims of revenge pornography
- Closes the Law Enforcement Consent Loophole
- Recognizes sex trafficking as a form of sexual assault
