The Violence Against Women Act has been reauthorized.
Last week, Congress, on a bipartisan basis, renewed the 1990s-era law that extends protections to victims of domestic and sexual violence. It was included in the $1.5 trillion government funding package, which was signed by President Joe Biden.
Biden helped write the original bill when he was a senator.
"The law has saved lives," Biden said at a ceremony Wednesday. "It has helped women rebuild their lives."
It strengthens rape prevention and education efforts as well as training for those in law enforcement and the judicial system.
Biden said the law is personal to him. While he didn't grow up in a house with domestic violence, he said his father taught him an important lesson.
“My dad used to say that the greatest sin was the abuse of power," he said. "And the cardinal sin was when a man would raise his hand against a woman or his child. That’s what this law has always been about— the abuse of power."
The original Violence Against Women Act expired about three years ago.
During Wednesday's ceremony, which was attended by numerous female lawmakers, Biden praised them for their work.
“We’re never going to get it all done but we can’t stop trying," Biden said.
