World News
Biden honored for his support of Violence Against Women Act
Published: April 23, 2009
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Vice President Joe Biden was honored April 22 for his work in passing and continuing to support the Violence Against Women Act. The Legal Momentum Hero Award was given to Biden during a daylong conference at Jesuit-run Georgetown University's Law Center marking the 15th anniversary of the law. Signed by President Bill Clinton in 1994, it provides funds for investigating and prosecuting violence against women, limits access to bail for accused abusers, and requires mandatory restitution. It also provides for immigrants who are victims of abuse to become legal U.S. residents without relying on the immigration status of an abusive relative. The bill was reauthorized in 2000 and 2005 and is up for reauthorization next year. In 2000, the Supreme Court overturned a section of the law that allowed civil rights lawsuits based on gender, but left the main parts of the law intact. When he was a U.S. senator from Delaware, Biden and his staff drafted the legislation and helped guide it to passage.
Copyright (c) Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .
