Angelina Jolie visits US Capitol to renew push for domestic violence law

Angelina Jolie urged the Senate to renew the Violence Against Women Act, making a plea for lawmakers to reauthorize the law she said was essential to offer basic protections to survivors of abuse.
Speaking at a press appearance at the Capitol along with a group of senators, Jolie also called out Congress for letting the law lapse.
The law was first passed in 1994, and included provisions for federal level prosecution of interstate domestic violence and sexual assault crimes, as well as support for shelters, rape crisis centers and community organizations. It was last reauthorized in 2013 but expired in 2019, and has since languished.
"The ugly truth is that violence in homes is normalised in our country," says film star Angelina Jolie as she calls for US lawmakers to immediately pass new legislation combating domestic violence.
"I want to acknowledge the children who are terrified and suffering at this moment and the many people for whom this legislation comes too late," the filmmaker adds while fighting back tears at a US Capitol press briefing, during which she introduces a new package of legislation that would provide victims of domestic violence with medical and legal assistance, as well as support children who have been exposed to violence in the home.
Angelina Jolie, US actress and filmmaker said,"Anyone who's been in those situations will tell you just how far they feel from the power concentrated here in this building, the power to pass laws that might have prevented their pain in the first place. The reason that many people struggle to leave abusive situations is that they've been made to feel worthless."