WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement today after the Senate voted to renew the Violence Against Women Act, the 20-year-old federal law that has helped millions of women and children escape abuse:

“The Violence Against Women Act has been extremely successful in Vermont and across the country. While the incidence of domestic violence has been reduced, too many women and girls are still suffering from domestic violence and sexual abuse. I applaud Sen. Leahy for leading the effort to reauthorize this extremely important law.”