VAWA 30th anniversary/ Biden’s Violence Against Women Act/ VAWA impact on domestic violence/ WASHINGTON/ President Joe Biden celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), calling it his proudest legislative achievement. The act, which he authored as a senator, has significantly reduced domestic violence rates and supported millions of survivors. Biden emphasized ongoing efforts to improve protections, including new grants and initiatives targeting gender-based violence.
Biden’s Violence Against Women Act – Quick Looks
- President Biden marked the 30th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), calling it his proudest legislative achievement.
- VAWA, written by Biden in 1994, aimed to change the culture around domestic violence and provide protection and justice for survivors.
- Domestic violence rates have dropped by 67% since the act’s passage, with over 7 million calls made to the national hotline.
- The Justice Department is awarding $690 million in grants to strengthen support for survivors.
- Federal agencies are focusing on housing rights and strategies to combat online gender-based violence.
- Biden acknowledged challenges in closing the “boyfriend loophole,” later addressed in his bipartisan gun safety legislation.
Biden Calls Violence Against Women Act His Proudest Achievement
Deep Look
President Joe Biden celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) on Thursday, calling it the legislative achievement he is most proud of in his career. Speaking to a large gathering of domestic abuse survivors, advocates, and government officials at the White House, Biden reflected on his role in drafting and championing the landmark law while serving as a U.S. senator. He emphasized that the act was about more than changing laws—it was about changing America’s cultural attitudes toward domestic violence and holding perpetrators accountable.
“Back then, society often looked away,” Biden said, recalling the attitudes in the early 1990s. Domestic violence, he noted, was frequently dismissed as a private matter, with few resources available for survivors. Many police departments lacked specialized units to address these crimes, and there was no national hotline for those seeking help. “My goal was to change the culture of America,” Biden said, adding that shining a light on the issue was crucial to transforming societal attitudes and providing real support for victims.
The Violence Against Women Act, signed into law by then-President Bill Clinton on September 13, 1994, was the first comprehensive federal law designed to combat domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. It set the groundwork for providing services and protections to survivors while holding abusers accountable. The White House reported that since the law’s passage, the rate of domestic violence has decreased by 67%, and the rate of rapes and sexual assaults has dropped by 56%, according to FBI data. A national domestic violence hotline, established in 1996, has received over 7 million calls.
“It saves lives,” Biden said during the anniversary event. He recounted his early advocacy for the law, driven by harrowing stories of domestic abuse. During a 1990 hearing on domestic violence, Biden declared that the nation had long ignored women’s right to live free from fear of attack based on their gender. His passion for the cause helped push the bill through Congress with bipartisan support.
At Thursday’s event, Biden announced new efforts to strengthen the law, including more than $690 million in grants from the Justice Department to support domestic violence survivors. The grants are part of broader federal initiatives that also include improved strategies to combat online gender-based violence, which has become an increasing threat as law enforcement struggles to keep pace with the digital age.
Federal agencies are also reminding survivors of their housing rights under federal programs, ensuring that those living in federally funded homes can request emergency housing transfers if needed.
Attorney General Merrick Garland, also present at the event, highlighted the law’s enduring impact. “These crimes cannot be cast aside as distinct or private,” Garland said, emphasizing the seriousness of domestic violence and the importance of ensuring justice for survivors.
Despite VAWA’s progress over three decades, Biden and others acknowledged that more work is needed to protect survivors. Jen Klein, White House gender policy adviser, echoed this sentiment, saying, “While we’ve made tremendous progress since 1994, we know that much work remains.”
One of the ongoing challenges has been addressing the so-called “boyfriend loophole” in gun laws. Under federal law, individuals convicted of domestic abuse lose their right to possess firearms only if they are or were married to their victim, lived with the victim, or share a child with them. This leaves a gap for individuals convicted of misdemeanor stalking or domestic violence in dating relationships, who are still able to own firearms.
Efforts to close this loophole nearly derailed the law’s 2022 reauthorization. A provision to expand gun restrictions faced fierce opposition from the National Rifle Association (NRA) and congressional Republicans, causing a legislative stalemate. Although Democrats eventually dropped the provision, Biden later addressed the issue in his bipartisan gun safety legislation passed in 2022. The new law prohibits individuals convicted of misdemeanor crimes in dating relationships from buying or owning firearms for at least five years.
Reflecting on the progress made and the work ahead, Biden reiterated his commitment to ensuring that the Violence Against Women Act continues to evolve to meet the needs of survivors. “This is about protecting people’s lives,” he said, underscoring the vital role the law has played—and will continue to play—in safeguarding women from violence.
