Politics. On Point.

12 Cities and Counties Receive Grants as Part of New Evidence-Based Prevention Initiative Riding on last week's presidential signing of the Violence Againist Women Act, Vice President Joe Biden and Attorney General Eric Holder announced grants to twelve programs across the country to target the urgent need to reduce domestic violence homicides. On average, three women a day die as a result of domestic violence. In total, the Department of Justice will award $2.3 million to twelve sites across the country as part of the new Domestic Violence Homicide Prevention Demonstration Initiative (DVHP Initiative). The DVHP Initiative, created by the Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), helps state and local jurisdictions reduce domestic violence homicides by effectively identifying potential victims and monitoring high-risk offenders. The DVHP Initiative is modeled after programs in Massachusetts and Maryland, where the use of coordinated teams of law enforce...

Women's History Month is starting off quite nicely. President Obama signed the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act making it easier to prosecute individuals who commit violent crimes against women, such as domestic violence.  The "Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013, (S. 47)" reauthorizes several Violence Against Women Act grant programs through FY 2018; and the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 through FY 2017 and also protects women on Tribal lands, improves protections for immigrant victims, ensures services for LGBT survivors, and adds important housing protections for victims. "So today is about all the survivors, all the advocates who are standing on this stage", said President Obama, speaking today from the Department of Interior. "But it’s also about the millions more they represent -- that you represent. It’s about our commitment as a country to address this problem -- in every corner of America, every communit...

Here are items we're following at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Today Vice President Biden hosted an event to launch a new Public Service Announcement (PSA) at the White House. The Vice President was joined by Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett, White House Advisor on Violence Against Women Lynn Rosenthal, Jimmy Rollins of the Philadelphia Phillies, David Price of the Tampa Bay Rays and Andy Katz of ESPN.  Featured in the PSA are David Beckham, and Eli Manning the President, the Vice President, and other professional athletes and role models who deliver the message that dating violence is unacceptable.  The PSA, 1 is 2 Many, which also includes New York Knick standout Jeremy Lin, Evan Longoria, David Beckham, and Joe Torre will air on various television networks and online platforms this summer. Click here to view it.   First Lady Michelle Obama spoke at the Creative Arts Center in Pueblo, Colorado today at a campaign event where ...

When one looks at 'Dictionary.com for the definition of 'rape' we find the following answer: For decades the definition of rape was thought to have included just women and young girls only. Today the FBI has decided to do one better. Based on reported data that includes more information from victims, that have included men, the new definition of rape is now: “The penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim.” “These long overdue updates to the definition of rape will help ensure justice for those whose lives have been devastated by sexual violence and reflect the Department of Justice’s commitment to standing with rape victims,” Attorney General Holder said. “This new, more inclusive definition will provide us with a more accurate understanding of the scope and volume of these crimes.” Holder announced revisions to the Uniform Crime Repor...

The White House is taking a stand on domestic violence. Domestic violence facts: 14% of teens report their boyfriend or girlfriend threatened to harm them or themselves to avoid a breakup. Among battered women living in shelters, 88% experience Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder because of domestic violence. 1/2 of the women who die from homicides are killed by their current or former husbands or partners. (Report) ...."That’s what we have to change", said President Obama during yesterday's White House event on domestic violence. "And I say that not only as a President, but as a son, as a husband, as the father of two daughters. Now, we’ve made a great deal of progress in recent years. But everybody in this room understands that our work is not yet finished. Not when there’s more we can do to help folks looking to restart their lives and achieve financial independence. Not when there’s more to do to ensure that the victims of abuse have access to legal protect...