Emmer’s sexual assault amendment passes as part of House-approved VAWA

An amendment offered by U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) to improve victim care and investigations into alleged sexual assaults made it into the bipartisan, U.S. House-approved Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA) of 2019.

House Amendment (H.Amdt.) 130, which Rep. Emmer offered on April 3, would authorize the Office on Violence Against Women to improve handling of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking by incorporating a trauma-informed approach into the initial response to and investigation of such crimes, according to the congressional record.

“We must all work together to ensure these crimes are treated as the heinous acts they are, with the hopes of one day ceasing it altogether,” Rep. Emmer said on April 5.

H.Amdt. 130 mirrors legislation that Rep. Emmer introduced in January known as the Abby Honold Act, H.R. 600, which is named for a former University of Minnesota student who survived a 2014 rape and honors the police officer who helped Honold win her case in court against the rapist. 

The amendment received House approval on April 3 and was added to VAWA, H.R. 1585, which also subsequently passed the House on April 4 by a vote of 263-158.

The sweeping H.R. 1585, sponsored on March 7 by U.S. Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA) and supported by more than 160 cosponsors, would enhance legal tools to combat domestic and dating violence, sexual assault and stalking; bolster survivor services; expand housing protections for survivors; and increase training and prevention programs, among numerous other provisions, according to the text of the bill.

Specifically, Rep. Emmer’s H.Amdt. 130 would establish a voluntary grant program to train law enforcement personnel and first responders in evidence-based, trauma-informed interview techniques that have been found to prevent the re-traumatization of victims, improve communication between victims and law enforcement, and ensure that accurate and complete information about the alleged assault is obtained, according to the congressman’s statement. 

“It is vital for law enforcement to have accurate and complete information to prosecute cases of sexual assault,” said Rep. Emmer. “For Abby, and for the thousands of victims who experience trauma, this is a key part of their recovery process, as is a compassionate response in the immediate aftermath.”

The U.S. Senate on Monday received H.R. 1585 for consideration.

“I hope the Senate considers the unanimous support for my amendment and the Abby Honold Act as it contemplates VAWA reauthorization,” said Rep. Emmer.