Bill Overview
Title: VAWA Technical Amendment Act of 2022
Description: This act 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 Native Hawaiian and tribal communities
Estimated Size: 2000000
- The VAWA Technical Amendment Act of 2022 aims to support women in specific communities affected by domestic violence and sexual assault.
- This act emphasizes Native Hawaiian communities and tribal communities, suggesting the target population includes Native American tribes and Native Hawaiians.
- Native American and Native Hawaiian populations experience higher rates of domestic violence and sexual assault compared to the general population.
Reasoning
- The VAWA Technical Amendment Act of 2022 is estimated to affect about 2,000,000 women in Native Hawaiian and tribal communities. However, the act has a limited budget compared to the population it aims to assist, meaning the impact may vary depending on the reach and efficiency of service delivery.
- The typical circumstances faced by Native Hawaiian and Native American women involve significantly higher rates of domestic violence and sexual assault compared to the general population, meaning the policy could provide crucial support.
- Since the funding over the next 10 years is $30,000,000, and considering the target population, the per capita spending is relatively low, which might result in limited direct assistance unless resources are distributed particularly effectively or supplemented with other funds.
- Interviews need to represent different segments of the population, including those who are highly impacted by domestic violence, those who might potentially be at risk, and those who are outside the targeted population but within the broader context.
- Native Hawaiian and Native American women are represented through diverse occupations, ages, and community engagement levels to cover a realistic cross-section of those potentially impacted.
Simulated Interviews
Community Outreach Worker (Maui, Hawaii)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy may bring much-needed resources to help combat domestic violence
- I hope that this policy can increase outreach efforts in our local communities
- Our women often face barriers in accessing help due to cultural and language differences
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Health Care Worker (Navajo Nation, Arizona)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The technical amendment is long overdue.
- It is crucial to have inclusive policies for Native Hawaiian women too but funding feels limited.
- These funds should be used effectively to directly benefit those at the grassroots level.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Student (Oahu, Hawaii)
Age: 23 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's great to see acknowledgments of the unique challenges we face.
- I think focusing on community-driven initiatives would be beneficial.
- Education on early warning signs of violence is key.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Retired Teacher (Phoenix, Arizona)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I view this amendment as a positive change.
- Funding is always a concern, so wise allocation is essential.
- Involvement of elders in program development is often helpful.
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 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Artisan (Fairbanks, Alaska)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More resources can improve immediate response times which are crucial.
- The cultural sensitivity should be paramount in any initiatives.
- Sustainable funding is something we lobby for continuously.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 2 |
Retail Manager (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This support extension is really encouraging.
- I believe it will improve facilities available here.
- There’s hope it also enables more culturally relevant programs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Restaurant Supervisor (Seattle, Washington)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policies like these help empower our voices on a national level.
- Resources are often limited, aiming for more comprehensive solutions would be wise.
- It's essential our stories and experiences fuel policy directions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Works at a non-profit organization (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Age: 58 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Real commitment to community health leads to sustainable change.
- This adds acknowledgment but real impact depends on effective execution.
- Continuous engagement with all stakeholders is crucial.
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 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Tech Manager (San Francisco, California)
Age: 36 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Though outside the target group, I see this as a valuable step forward.
- Awareness and training programs are also needed.
- All women’s issues should get a fair share of attention in policies like these.
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 |
Small Business Owner (Honolulu, Hawaii)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policies that reach the grassroots can redefine our future.
- Cultural acknowledgment is the first step towards real assistance.
- Funding needs to match the scale of the problems we face.
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 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $3000000 (Low: $2500000, High: $3500000)
Year 2: $3000000 (Low: $2500000, High: $3500000)
Year 3: $3000000 (Low: $2500000, High: $3500000)
Year 5: $3000000 (Low: $2500000, High: $3500000)
Year 10: $3000000 (Low: $2500000, High: $3500000)
Year 100: $3000000 (Low: $2500000, High: $3500000)
Key Considerations
- Native American and Native Hawaiian women face disproportionately high rates of domestic violence and sexual assault, so targeted support is crucial.
- The act extends existing grants, leveraging established administrative structures and thus not demanding excessive new funding.
- Focuses on both Native Hawaiian women in addition to tribal communities, ensuring wider demographic coverage.