Final Push for Violence Against Women Act [VIDEO]

New Hampshire lawmakers have always led the way in protecting and preserving the rights of women. It's something U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said has always been a point of pride, in her years of political service here.

This is no time to legislatively abandon those most vulnerable – victims of domestic violence – Shaheen said.

That's why Shaheen made a point of stopping by Bridges women's support center in Nashua last week, to reinforce the strides made over the past two decades, and to talk about why reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act is so vital.

Shaheen, a Democrat, explained that one main factor in the bill's favor is strong bi-partisan support, including from her Republican counterpart and one of the bill's 60 co-sponsors, U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-NH.

“As a long-time prosecutor and former Attorney General, I’ve seen firsthand the devastating effects of domestic violence and I fought to hold perpetrators accountable for their heinous crimes. The Violence Against Women Act includes valuable prevention programs that are primarily implemented at the state and local level. The bipartisan legislation I’m co-sponsoring extends these initiatives in a fiscally responsible manner, and I strongly support its passage,” Ayotte said in a prepared statement on the bill.

VAWA, as the bill is often referred to, was first passed in 1994. Unless Congress renews it before the end of the fiscal year, it expires, as it did late last year. It provides grants to states and local service providers, including Bridges, which are at risk of losing essential funding for basic programs, if reauthorization fails.

When asked how concerned she was that VAWA might not be reauthorized this time around, Shaheen said it's not the bill itself that is drawing objections from conservative lawmakers as much as it's certain language included in this version, including protections for Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender individuals; undocumented immigrants who are victims of domestic abuse; and the authority of Native American tribes to prosecute crimes.

"We need to come together in a bipartisan way to pass the Violence Against Women Act so we don't put the safety of women and families at risk," Shaheen said.

Shaheen said she expected the legislation would go before the Senate mid-week.

The April 13 roundtable discussion was also attended by Mayor Donnalee Lozeau; Nashua Chief of Police John Seusing; Bridges Executive Director Dawn Reams; and Bridges Board President Jeff Allar; Hillsborough County Attorney Patricia LaFrance; NH Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence Executive Director Kimberly France, and coalition lobbyist Amanda Grady Sexton; and Bridges Cultural Coordinator Barbara Costa.