(Washington, DC) – Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) issued the following statement on today’s press conference, convened by Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Houston Police Department Chief Art Acevedo, where local community leaders urged the United States Senate to hold a vote on H.R. 1585, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA). VAWA, which passed the House with bipartisan support, will extend protections for men, women, and children by providing for essential services and resources for survivors of violence.

“More than 200 days ago, the House of Representatives passed VAWA. Today, I join Mayor Turner, Chief Acevedo, and other Houston leaders in, once again, calling on the Senate to bring this critical legislation to the floor. We can make our communities safer by investing in training for law enforcement and improving services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence—but the Senate must act. I urge the United States Senate to join the House of Representatives and pass VAWA.”