The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), first was enacted in 1994, is a vital piece of legislation that provides legal and institutional protections for women and men who face physical and emotional abuse and/or who are victims of violence. The Act eases the investigation and prosecution of violent crimes against women (and men), including domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. VAWA also provides grants to state and local governments to fund services for victims. The law has been credited with raising awareness about domestic violence as well as reducing the rate of intimate partner violence by 67%. VAWA passed the Senate on Tuesday afternoon in a bipartisan vote of 78 to 22. Now that the bill has passed in the Senate, it moves on to the House, led by Republicans, where it could face more difficulty in passing.