Last Updated on Monday, 04 March 2013 14:21 Written by News Release Sunday, 03 March 2013 14:06
Guam News - Guam News
Guam - Senator Frank Aguon Jr. is hailing congressional passage Friday of the Violence Against Women Act [VAWA].
Senator Aguon says in a release that he is "breathing a sigh of relief" because the measure "reinforces our government's responsibility in working towards the eradication of domestic violence crimes across our nation"
However, the Senator says "there is ... no time for rest" because Sequestration threatens funding for the island's domestric abuse shelters.
He urged Guam lawamkers to pass his Bill #41 which would increase the penalties for crimes of family violence.
The release quotes Aguon as saying "There is much left to be done on the local level, but today I congratulate Congress in taking this significant step towards protecting and ensuring the sanctity of our families and our homes."
READ the release from Senator Aguon below:FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AGUON RELEASES STATEMENT HAILING CONGRESSIONAL PASSAGE OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT
Hagatna, GU--Senator Frank B. Aguon, Jr. has released a statement in response to the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act ("VAWA") in the United States Congress. The measure was passed on a House vote of 286-138 after expiring earlier this year for the first time in nearly two decades.
Sen. Aguon expresses the following statement:
"I share the sentiments of our community in breathing a sigh of relief as the United States Congress comes together in support of reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act. This bill reinforces our government's responsibility in working towards the eradication of domestic violence crimes across our nation.
There is, however, no time for rest. The sequestration may still impact funding for our local domestic abuse shelters. The Legislature must also pass Bill No. 41-32, which I have introduced to significantly increase the penalties for crimes of family violence. There is much left to be done on the local level, but today I congratulate Congress in taking this significant step towards protecting and ensuring the sanctity of our families and our homes."
Senator Aguon introduced Resolution No. 33-32 on February 4th, 2013, urging Congress to pass VAWA during what was then a period of congressional stalemate, and introduced Bill No. 41-32 on February 11th, 2013, which strengthens penalties on crimes of family violence. Bill 41 will be up for a public hearing on Monday, March 4th, 2013, 9:00AM at the Legislature Public Hearing Room.| < Prev | Next > |
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