Each year women report approximately 500,000 rapes and sexual assaults, according to a recently designed Bureau of Justice Statistics survey. The extent and seriousness of the problem of violence against women first was addressed in 1990 by legislation proposing a federal response. Over the next several years, Congress began to address mounting public concern about gender-related crime, culminating in the enactment of new penalties under the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, and the establishment of several grant programs under its Tile IV, the Violence Against Women Act (P.L. 103-322). Since passage of P.L. 103-322, Congress has been supportive regarding funding. In FY1997, Congress approved VAWA funding for selected programs at the Department of Justice at $197.5 million and at the Department of Health and Human Services for $61 million. In FY1998, Congress approved VAWA funding for selected programs at the Department of Justice at $270.75 million and at the Department of Health and Human Services at $154 million.

Domestic violence generally refers to overt physical abuse, sexual violence, or psychological violence between spouses, ex-spouses, boyfriends or girlfriends. Estimates of the level of domestic violence nationwide vary depending on how the term is defined, with most researchers agreeing that the majority of domestic violence victims are women.
The federal government administers two Acts to address domestic violence: the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act, and the Violence Against Women Act. A third federal program, the Victims of Crime Act, also includes services for victims of domestic violence. This report presents statistics on domestic violence, and discusses federal programs to deal with the problem.

Gender-based discrimination, harassment, and violence against women in the home, workplace, and society at large have received increasing legislative and judicial attention in recent years. Legal doctrines condemning the extortion of sexual favors as a condition of employment or job advancement, and other sexually offensive workplace behaviors resulting in a “hostile environment,” continue to evolve from judicial decisions under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and related federal laws. The courts and EEOC have interpreted Title VII to protect both men and women against workplace sexual harassment by the opposite sex. In 1994, Congress broke new legal ground by creating a civil rights cause of action for victims of “crimes of violence motivated by gender.” The new law also made it a federal offense to travel interstate with the intent to “injure, harass, or intimidate” a spouse, causing bodily harm to the spouse by a crime of violence.

According to a newly designed Bureau of Justice Statistics survey, “women annually reported about 500,000 rapes and sexual assaults…” Legislation proposing a federal response to the problem of violence against women was first introduced in 1990. Over the next several years, congressional actions to address public concerns about this problem culminated in the enactment of new penalties under the Violence Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, and the establishment of several grant programs under its Title IV, the Violence Against Women Act (P.L. 103-322). In FY1996, Congress approved VAWA funding for selected problems, including the Department of Justice ($165 million); and the Department of Health and Human Services ($54 million). In FY1997, Congress approved VAWA funding for selected programs including the Department of Justice ($197.5 million), and the Department of Health and Human Services ($61 million).

There is now available new and more accurate data about the extent of violence against women. According to a newly designed Bureau of Justice Statistics survey, “women annually reported about 500,000 rapes and sexual assaults…” Legislation proposing a Federal response to the problem of violence against women was first introduced in 1990. Over the next several years, congressional actions to address public concerns about this problem culminated in the enactment of new penalties under the Violence Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, and the establishment of several grant programs under its Title IV, the Violence Against Women Act (P.L. 103-322). Within the FY1996 appropriations process, the House and Senate have approved funding for several programs under the Violence Against Women Act.