Senate committee advances Murkowski’s bill to support family violence prevention

Bipartisan legislation supported by U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) to improve America’s domestic violence shelters and sexual assault programs on July 21 received approval by the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee. 

“Supporting survivors of violence should never be a partisan issue,” Sen. Murkowski said. “I’m thankful my colleagues on the HELP Committee recognized that and advanced our Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act.” 

The Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act of 2021, S. 1275, which Sen. Murkowski cosponsored in April with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), is the identical bill to H.R. 2119, introduced in March by U.S. Reps. John Katko (R-NY) and Lucy McBath (D-GA) to modify, expand and reauthorize through fiscal year 2026 the Family Violence and Prevention Services program, which funds emergency shelters and supports related assistance for victims of domestic violence. The U.S. House Education and Labor Committee on July 15 voted 26-20 to advance H.R. 2119.  

The Senate version of the bill also includes a provision from Sen. Murkowski’s legislation, Bree’s Law, which addresses teen dating violence through education initiatives aimed at empowering youth, parents, and advocates to recognize, prevent, and mitigate teen dating violence, according to her staff.

“The reality is far too many who fall victim to violence from a family member or partner find themselves in a cycle of abuse — because without receiving some level of support — they are trapped,” said Sen. Murkowski, who over the past few months has met with many victims, survivors of violence, and supporting organizations that say the problem is worsening.

“We have a responsibility to be involved — to help those who are most vulnerable,” Sen. Murkowski said. “Through this bill, survivors receive critical services such as emergency shelter, crisis counseling, safety planning, as well as assistance recovering from financial abuse and housing insecurity.”

“And through a grant program focused on education to teach teens how to recognize and avoid the dangers of an abusive relationship, my hope is that we can raise awareness to eliminate dating violence,” she added.

Among several provisions, the bill would update the term “family violence” to better reflect violence today and describe those who are eligible for program-supported services; authorize funding for tribal domestic violence coalitions; authorize the Alaska Native Women’s Resource Center into federal law; increase authorization for the formula grant to $270 million, with an increase in tribal grant funding through a reservation of funds; and create new grant programs focused on serving underserved populations and providing culturally specific services, according to Sen. Murkowski’s bill summary.

Both versions of the bill now head to their full chambers for action.