Senator successfully closed the “boyfriend loophole” in her Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which was recently passed into law
One of Sinema’s first victories in the U.S. Congress was leading the fight to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act in 2013, and she helped renew the legislation this year
WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema discussed efforts to combat violence, murders, and trafficking of women of color with Respect Our Daughters – an Arizona nonprofit providing resources and educational tools for survivors of sex trafficking.
“I’ll continue working to protect and empower survivors of human trafficking – particularly women of color – through legislation like our Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and our Violence Against Women Act. I’m grateful for Respect Our Daughters’ partnership in combatting violence and trafficking of women,” said Sinema.
Sinema, an experienced social worker who’s taught at ASU’s School of Social Work for nearly 20 years, used her social work background when writing and negotiating the historic Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which was signed into law this June. In this historic law, Sinema closed the “boyfriend loophole” – preventing previously convicted physically abusive ex-boyfriends and stalkers from accessing guns. The Senator’s violence prevention legislation included support for state crisis intervention orders, investment in children and family mental health services, protections for victims of domestic violence, funding for school-based mental health and supportive services, and more.
One of Sinema’s first victories after first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives was leading the fight to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act in 2013. Most recently, Sinema worked across the aisle to renew the Violence Against Women Act in March 2022. In the meeting with advocates from Respect Our Daughters, the Senator underscored her continued commitment to find bipartisan solutions to combat sex trafficking and gender-based violence.
Sinema is a cosponsor of the bipartisan Human Trafficking Survivor Tax Relief Act – legislation helping survivors of human trafficking get back on their feet by exempting their restitution from federal taxes.