On September 12, 2024, the Biden-Harris administration celebrated 30 years since the passage of the US Violence Against Women Act, with an announcement of new funds and new areas of coverage. Although passed by Congress in 1994, the VAWA bill was first introduced in 1990. From the WINGS archive 1991, here is then-81-year-old Washington reporter Sarah McClendon, interviewing then-49-year-old Senator Joe Biden, about the bill he drafted and introduced in the Senate, and would finally successfully shepherd through. He explains his first realization that the problem existed, and many of the angles to address it written into that bill. A similar version was introduced in the House by Barbara Boxer of California. The VAWA finally passed in both houses in 1994 and has been renewed - although with stops and starts and amendments - ever since. McClendon opined that Biden's work on this bill would make up for his performance as chair of the Judiciary Committee, when Anita Hill's testimony was dismissed and Clarence Thomas was confirmed to the US Supreme Court.
Interview by Sarah McClendon; editor for WINGS, Frieda Werden.
WINGS: Women's International News Gathering Service was founded in 1986 to cover the global women's movement and related issues. Free to community radio stations. Contact: wings@wings.org
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