Washington, D.C. – DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz released the following statement today in commemoration of the 21st anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act:

“Today is the 21st anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act being signed into law. For more than two decades, this law has provided life-saving assistance to millions of women and families across the country and strengthened critical services for the survivors of violent crime, while holding the perpetrators of such crimes accountable.

“This is an issue that has garnered widespread support among the American people, especially over the last year, as we have confronted the images and aftermath of domestic violence. But each of the sitting Republican Senators seeking their party’s presidential nomination voted against reauthorizing VAWA. Additionally, Scott Walker, Marco Rubio, Rand Paul, and others oppose a woman’s right to an abortion, even in cases where the woman is a survivor of rape or incest. And Jeb Bush suggested we are spending too much on women’s health care.

“Preventing violence against women, and extending support to those who have been victims of these crimes, are important steps to which Democrats remain committed. However, we must go further to ensure that women are treated with dignity and respect. That includes ensuring equal pay, preventing a return to a health care system in which insurance companies can discriminate against women, and allowing a woman to make her own health care decisions. The Democratic Party will continue to fight on behalf of women and their families.”