Bill Overview
Title: VAWA Technical Amendment Act of 2022
Description: This bill allows formula grants for tribal domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions to be used to support women in Native Hawaiian communities in addition to women in tribal communities.
Sponsors: Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
Target Audience
Population: Women in tribal and Native Hawaiian communities
Estimated Size: 750000
- VAWA stands for Violence Against Women Act, which is targeted at protecting women from domestic violence and sexual assault.
- This amendment specifically includes Native Hawaiian communities along with tribal communities, indicating a broadening of the beneficiary group.
- The inclusion of Native Hawaiian communities suggests both Native Hawaiians and tribal women across the United States will be impacted.
Reasoning
- The policy primarily targets Native Hawaiian and tribal women affected by domestic violence and sexual assault, which is a specific yet significant demographic.
- Financial constraints are notable, as the single-year budget allows limited resources, meaning that only a fraction of the population can receive substantial benefits at once.
- Long-term benefits might spread more evenly, however, there is a constant risk of underfunding limiting the full potential impact.
- Since not all women who belong to these communities will necessarily be affected by domestic violence, the subset engaged could be smaller than the larger demographic population totals.
Simulated Interviews
Community health worker (Hawaii)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a great step for us. Many women I work with need more resources than what is currently available.
- I'm hopeful VAWA amendment will bring more services specifically tailored for our community.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
School Teacher (Oklahoma)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's beneficial that Native Hawaiian women are included now. Our challenges are similar, and we can learn from each other.
- I hope this leads to more community-specific programs that address our unique needs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Social Worker (Arizona)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This amendment is essential for increasing reach and support, yet more funding is critical to address longstanding issues.
- We still face major barriers even with this policy, so sustained effort and funding are necessary to make a long-term impact.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Homemaker (California)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Finally, Native Hawaiian women will have access to more support. I am personally hopeful this could mean more shelters and legal assistance.
- My wellbeing has been low due to past experiences, so I'm optimistic that more focused support can help.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Retired Police Officer (Montana)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 20/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm glad to see legislative progress, but having the funds translate into real actions on the ground is what's truly critical.
- There needs to be an emphasis on effectively training personnel in tribal and Native Hawaiian areas.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Artist (New Mexico)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's imperative that awareness grows alongside funding. Cultural preservation should include promoting women's safety.
- Artists like me can help spread awareness, but we need more empowerment tools.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Software Engineer (Utah)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While the policy is crucial, my current situation doesn't see its impact directly. I do appreciate the progress culturally, though.
- There are many who need this support more than I do, and it is important to prioritize them.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
University Student (Hawaii)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- With adequate support, the morale of students and young women can significantly improve.
- Engagements can be better channelled through educational institutions if funding allows.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Community organizer (Alaska)
Age: 41 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This amendment makes financial support visible, but we must ensure it is utilized correctly.
- Training and resources should reach grassroots levels for real change.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Non-profit Director (Washington)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The potential changes from this amendment are promising, but careful navigation is required to maximize outcomes.
- Policy change is just the start; now it's about action on the ground for improvement in safety and support.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $1500000 (Low: $1000000, High: $2000000)
Year 2: $1600000 (Low: $1100000, High: $2100000)
Year 3: $1700000 (Low: $1200000, High: $2200000)
Year 5: $1900000 (Low: $1400000, High: $2400000)
Year 10: $2300000 (Low: $1800000, High: $2800000)
Year 100: $3500000 (Low: $3000000, High: $4000000)
Key Considerations
- The broader inclusion of Native Hawaiians could lead to an increased demand for support services, necessitating enhanced infrastructure.
- Understanding the unique circumstances and barriers faced by these communities is crucial to tailoring effective support services.
- Coordination with existing VAWA programs for efficient resource allocation will be vital.