SHAHEEN INDUCTED INTO HALL OF FAME OF N.H. COALITION AGAINST DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE
(Bedford, N.H.) –U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen today was inducted into the Hall of the Fame of the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence for her work to support victims of sexual violence and reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Shaheen has been an ardent supporter of VAWA in Congress and has visited crisis centers throughout New Hampshire to highlight the critical services the program provides.
“Protecting New Hampshire citizens from domestic and sexual abuse is a critical priority, and the work carried out by the Coalition has a huge impact in keeping our citizens safe,” Shaheen said. “I’ve spoken with victims of sexual violence across New Hampshire and one thing that I’ve heard over and over is that the services offered by the Coalition and through VAWA really make a difference. I am proud to stand with the Coalition in support of VAWA to make sure people throughout our state get the protection they deserve.”
“Senator Shaheen has been an integral part of the Coalition’s history through her work as Governor, and now as U.S. Senator,” said Maureen McDonald, Community Relations Director at the Coalition. “Her leadership on the Violence Against Women Act is greatly appreciated in this community and we cannot thank her enough for all of her tireless efforts on behalf of victims.”
With Shaheen's support, the Senate passed a version of VAWA in April that honored the bipartisan history of the legislation and included new protections for victims of same-sex relationships, for immigrant victims and for women on tribal lands. The reauthorization passed the Senate with a bipartisan vote of 68-31. Shaheen has repeatedly called on the House of Representatives to take up the Senate-passed version of the bill so that it can be approved and passed to the President for his signature.
Shaheen has also introduced legislation that would provide health services to victims of sexual assault in the military. The Shaheen Amendment would put Department of Defense rules in line with other federal policies by giving women in uniform who are victims of rape or incest the right to access affordable abortion care. The amendment was included in the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act and has been supported by military leaders.
Other inductees into the Coalition’s Hall of Fame today included: N.H. State Representative Julie Brown; Debra Hastings, Director of Continuing Nursing Education at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center; John Tobin, Executive Director of New Hampshire Legal Assistance and Pamela Dodge, an active member in the Domestic Violence Emergency Project.
