Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo joined a bipartisan group of senators this week to reintroduce the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, sponsored by Crapo and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont.  “I am a longtime champion of preventing domestic violence, because I have seen the impact of this firsthand in Idaho,” Crapo declared. “This month alone, there have been four deaths in Idaho as a result of domestic violence. These tragic events serve as a reminder that we are far from ending abuse, though we have made great progress and will continue to make great progress.”

The Violence Against Women Act was reauthorized in 2000 and again in 2005, each time with bipartisan support, but it expired in September of 2011. The Leahy-Crapo bill would reauthorize it for five years. You can read Crapo’s full announcement here.