Senators Strike Bipartisan Deal on Violence Against Women Act

Republicans had balked at Democrats’ efforts to add language to bill that would have closed ‘boyfriend loophole’

By Lindsay Wise, WSJ, Feb. 9

WASHINGTON—Senators have struck a bipartisan deal to reauthorize a landmark domestic-violence bill, after Democrats dropped their effort to add contentious language related to guns.

The Violence Against Women Act, or VAWA, was enacted in 1994 to provide funding for prosecutions of domestic violence crimes, as well as for shelters and other programs to aid victims of abuse. It lapsed in 2019.

Republicans had balked at Democrats’ efforts to add language to the bill that would have closed the “boyfriend loophole” by barring people convicted of crimes related to dating violence from possessing firearms, and that provision was excluded as part of the deal. Under current federal law, people convicted of domestic violence or under restraining orders for domestic violence can’t access guns, but the prohibition doesn’t apply to partners who don’t live together or have children together.

“This is a day that’s finally come,” said Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Senate Democrat, who helped broker the deal with Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D., Calif.) and Republican Sens. Joni Ernst of Iowa and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, along with other lawmakers.

President Biden applauded the bipartisan group that negotiated the deal.

“Combating domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking should not be a Democratic issue or Republican issue,” said Mr. Biden, who has called VAWA his proudest legislative achievement from his years in the Senate. He said he looked forward to Congress sending the bill to his desk.

At a press conference Wednesday afternoon attended by actress and advocate Angelina Jolie, Mr. Durbin said the senators wanted to include the language that would have closed the boyfriend loophole, but realized they needed to introduce a bill that could pass in the evenly divided Senate, where 60 votes are needed for it to advance.

“It’s a tough choice. We made the decision we thought was right,” said Mr. Durbin.

When Ms. Ernst spoke, her voice was taut with emotion.

“So folks, I’m a survivor,” she said. “I know first hand what happens when someone you trust abuses you.” She said it was important for her that VAWA didn’t become a political football “to use as a tool during campaigns,” but to do the right thing by victims.

Ms. Feinstein said the compromise bill has nine Democratic co-sponsors and nine Republican co-sponsors.

“I regret that the boyfriend loophole is not addressed, and many of us have tried very hard to get there, but it’s a good bill, and we need too finally get a Violence Against Women reauthorization to the president’s desk,” Ms. Feinstein said.

Mr. Durbin said backers were close to enlisting a 10th Republican senator, and he expected the bill to come directly to the floor for a vote soon, albeit not before the Senate’s Presidents Day recess. He said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) supports advancing it quickly.

Provisions added to the updated bill include an expansion of access to medical exams for victims of sexual assault who live in rural areas; language that clarifies tribal criminal jurisdiction over non-Native Americans accused of domestic or sexual violence, sex trafficking or stalking on tribal lands; and authorization of a grant program to provide services for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender victims of domestic or sexual crimes.

Write to Lindsay Wise at lindsay.wise@wsj.com