What is the VAWA?

According to Wikipedia, “The Act provided $1.6 billion toward investigation and prosecution of violent crimes against women, imposed automatic and mandatory restitution on those convicted, and allowed civil redress in cases prosecutors chose to leave unprosecuted. The Act also established the Office on Violence Against Women within the Department of Justice.”

Why has it expired?

It passed the Senate back in April and moved onto the Republican-run House. But if a bill isn’t brought up, it isn’t voted on, and therefore it dies. And in this case, means the act isn’t reauthorized.

Why did this happen?

According to the Huffington Post, the revised VAWA “would have extended domestic violence protections to 30 million LGBT individuals, undocumented immigrants and Native American women.”

You can read more here.