The Senate voted yesterday to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act. First authored by then-Senator Joe Biden in 1994, the Violence Against Women Act provides funding to combat domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. In the 17 years since its original passage, reports of sexual violence have dropped by 60 percent annually.

President Obama and his administration are committed to building on that progress and taking new steps to address domestic violence and sexual assault. The new version of the Violence Against Women Act strengthens protections for victims of violence, including:

• Funding to ensure that survivors of sexual assault do not have to pay for their own rape kits

• Support for community violence prevention programs and legal aid

• More inclusive services and programming to support all victims of violence, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity

• Expanded protections for Native American women, who suffer high rates of sexual violence

• Increased support and legal aid for immigrant women who choose to prosecute their attackers

Learn more about the updated Violence Against Women Act, and see why Vice President Biden is calling for the House of Representatives to pass the bill "so the President can sign this vital legislation as soon as possible."