Skip to Content

Press Releases

House Approves Nadler Amendment to Combat Domestic Violence

The House of Representatives last night approved an amendment by Congressman Jerrold Nadler to protect women and children from domestic violence.  Congressman Nadler’s amendment to the Science, State, Justice, and Commerce Appropriations Act increased funding for the Jessica Gonzales Victim Assistance Program by $5 million. The amendment was cosponsored by Congresswoman Lois Capps.


The Jessica Gonzales program places special victim assistants in local law enforcement agencies to serve as liaisons between the agencies and victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, in order to improve the enforcement of protection orders.  Nadler and Capps created the program during congressional reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act in 2005.  This is Congress’s first opportunity to provide funding specifically for the program.

“Women and children should never have to worry that a protective order will fail to keep them safe—and yet, far too often, poor enforcement leads to the worst consequences,” Congressman Nadler said.  “This funding will help to make sure that protective orders serve their purpose: to protect the vulnerable.”

Jessica Gonzales, a mother of three in Colorado, saw firsthand the brutality that is possible when a protective order is not enforced.  While the police failed to intervene, Ms. Gonzales’s estranged husband abducted and murdered their three young daughters.  Her namesake program aims to avert such tragedies by improving law enforcement agencies’ awareness and handling of protective orders.

The amendment passed by voice vote.

###
Back to top