4 This would give LGBT victims the help and healing they need and would make sure they do not have to suffer because of their sexual orientation. The policy would also include a solution for Native American women who are assaulted on Indian reservation by a non-Native to prosecute the offender on tribal land. Prior to this bill, Native American courts were not allowed to prosecute against non natives on tribal grounds, which excluded Native American women from being able to prosecute their offender on their grounds if they happen to be non native. The bill promised to bring Native American women justice in court in by giving tribal courts the authority they need to hold offenders in their community accountable. 5 The 2013 Reauthorization of Violence Against Women Act will also address issues in their housing protection services, called the Landmark VAWA, which serves to help prevent discrimination against and unjust evictions of survivors of domestic violence in public and assisted housing. When the Landmark VAWA was first established in 2005, the law did not did not cover all federally subsidized housing programs.6 The 2013 reauthorization seeks to expand fill this gap in their housing program and expand to all federally subsidized housing programs, especially victims of sexual assault and create emergency transfer options. The 2013 reauthorization of VAWA also maintains protections for immigrant who suffer from violence, while also making improvements to let them petition for legal status in the United States through self-petitions and U visas.7 Lastly, the act required colleges and universities to record incidences of dating violence and provide information to students about dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking and improve data collection about these crimes.
The 2013 Reauthorization of Violence Against Women Act was supported by many members of the House, as it proved to be effective since the enforcement of the policy decreased the number of rapes in the United States when the bill was first established in 1994.
