VIDEO: House Passes Hirono Legislation to Support Native Hawaiian Survivors of Gender-Based Violence
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation introduced by U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) to allow Native Hawaiian survivors of gender-based violence to access critical programs and resources provided by Congress through the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The reauthorization of VAWA—which was signed into law in March, 2022—provides funding to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, sex-trafficking, dating violence and stalking. Senator Hirono’s legislation amends the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) to ensure Native Hawaiian organizations can actually serve the Native Hawaiian community. The bill, which passed in the Senate unanimously earlier this month, passed in the House on a voice vote and now heads to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.
“For decades, Congress has provided funding to support survivors of gender-based violence through the Violence Against Women Act, including Native women who experience disproportionately high levels of sexual violence,” said Senator Hirono. “However—unlike American Indian and Alaska Native women—Native Hawaiian women have been unjustly excluded from accessing much-needed resources provided through VAWA. I’ve been focused on making the necessary changes for years to ensure that Native Hawaiian organizations can finally serve the Native Hawaiian community. And I’m proud that today, my bill to amend VAWA passed the House and now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law. Now, Native Hawaiian survivors will actually be able to access the support they need and deserve, and Native Hawaiian organizations will be able to do even more in the fight to end sexual violence.”
Native women across the country—including American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women—experience disproportionately high levels of sexual violence. Therefore, VAWA includes Services, Training, Officers Prosecutors (STOP) grants to provide funding for eligible Native-serving non-profits, including Native Hawaiian organizations, to help combat sexual violence and support survivors. However, because of how the law was written, while Native Hawaiian organizations are able to apply for STOP grant funding, they cannot use the funds to actually serve the Native Hawaiian community. As a result, Native Hawaiian women have been unable to access critical resources included in VAWA.
According to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, more than two-thirds of sex trafficking victims in Hawaii are Native Hawaiian women and girls, and 37% of reported child sex trafficking cases in Hawaii are Native Hawaiian.
Senator Hirono has been a vocal advocate for the Native Hawaiian community and efforts to combat violence against Native Hawaiians. Last month, she spoke on the Senate floor about the need to amend VAWA to include Native Hawaiian women. In August, she pressed FBI Director Christopher Wray to do more to protect the Native Hawaiian community from sexual exploitation at a full Judiciary Committee hearing and emphasized the need for the FBI to include the Native Hawaiian community in its efforts to address the missing and murdered Indigenous people crisis and violence against Native communities. In May, she joined a resolution designating May 5th as National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
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