Members of the local chapter of the National Organization of Women are looking forward to seeing legislation passed in 2019 on items that previously stalled in the State Senate and in Congress with Republican majorities. CNY NOW President Mickey Belosi says the Violence Against Women Act expired in September and funding for its programming sunsets in early December.
She feels the act could be enhanced to address additional needs of women affected by domestic violence.
“The improvements to the act would be tribal improvements for native Americans, housing improvements, education and protection, criminal justice, economic justice, and reducing homicides.”
The new reauthorization deadline for VAWA is December 7th and the group says it only currently has Democratic support. However, Belosi says a less-inclusive version is currently being promoted by Republicans. At stake is support for more than 50 anti-violence programs in New York totaling $32 million.
(See what Rep. John Katko said about VAWA here)
In New York, the Child Victims Act has failed to earn the support by the Republican-controlled State Senate for 15 years in a row. The Senate will become majority Democratic in 2019, after the recent election. A revised version would raise the statute of limitations for victims to come forward.
“Right now the age for reporting any kind of abuse is 23-years-old and reporting the age was 23 years, and that (would) to go up to 50 years. And there (would be) a lookback window for abuse of only one year.”
If passed, victims of abuse from decades ago would have a one-year window during which to bring criminal charges.
Belosi thinks with an influx of women recently being elected in federal races and more Democrats in office, further success on stalled legislation could move forward.
“At the federal level there is a greater chance of passing legislation that’s important to women and families.”
She adds that Worker’s Justice needs to be addressed at the federal level and says women need to be written into the constitution.
NOW held its State Convention in Syracuse over the weekend.
