Progress for Efforts!!

Dear Fellow Coloradan,

I am proud to announce that last week the Senate passed the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA). The bill now moves to the U.S. House of Representatives, where – despite receiving broad bipartisan support in the Senate – it faces an uphill battle.

Especially in an election year, even common-sense legislation like VAWA is at risk of turning into a political chess piece. That's why I'm calling on my colleagues in the House not to allow this truly bipartisan legislation to be compromised by partisan games.

You can show your support for VAWA by signing my petition: http://markudall.senate.gov/vawa.

VAWA is an important tool to fight back against domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and other crimes that affect the entire community. For the past 18 years, VAWA has supported critical services for victims and survivors, and provided our law enforcement beefed-up resources and tools for catching and prosecuting perpetrators of violent crimes against women.

VAWA has been instrumental in making a difference in the lives of millions of women, children – and yes, men too – across our country, changing the way we think about and respond to domestic violence. In 2010 alone, 60,000 survivors of domestic violence in Colorado contacted state crisis hotlines seeking help – a staggering number that reinforces the urgency of reauthorizing VAWA.

Thank you for all of your support in helping me pass this important bill in the Senate. I hope you will stay involved as the bill is considered in the House.

Warm regards,