Blumenthal Introduces the SAFE for Survivors Act to Provide Economic Security for Domestic Violence Survivors

[HARTFORD, CT] - U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) joined Senate colleagues in introducing the Security and Financial Empowerment (SAFE) for Survivors Act to establish provisions that promote the safety and security of survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, gender-based violence, and stalking.

"Financial injury is common to almost every instance of domestic violence. It perpetuates physical and emotional harm by forcing survivors to stay with their abuser," said Blumenthal on Thursday at a press conference in Hartford. "The SAFE for Survivors Act is an effort to empower survivors. "

The 2024 SAFE for Survivors Act allows victims to take time off from work without fear of penalty, requires that employers provide reasonable accommodations to assist survivors dealing with the aftermath of violence, provides access to unemployment benefits for survivors, and establishes insurance protections to support survivors-ensuring that victims are not punished for their abusers' crimes.

One in four women in the U.S. experience physical violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime and one in four women report an attempted or completed rape during their lifetime. Individuals who experience intimate partner violence, sexual assault, gender-based violence and stalking often find that abuse and threats follow them from home into the workplace. This type of violence has direct consequences for survivors' economic security, which can affect their ability to recover, provide for their families, and remove themselves from dangerous situations.

According to the Domestic Violence Hotline, domestic violence issues lead to nearly 8 million lost days of paid work each year, the equivalent of over 32,000 full-time jobs.

Highlights of the 2024 SAFE Act include:

Increased Access to Leave

• The SAFE for Survivors Act allows victims to take time off from work-40 days of leave, ten of which must be paid-without penalty in order to contend with the consequences of gender-based violence, including attending court appearances, seeking legal assistance, and getting help with safety planning. For too many victims, access to these essential services can mean the difference between life and death.

Enhanced Workplace Protections

• The SAFE for Survivors Act prohibits discriminatory employment practices in connection with survivors of domestic or sexual violence and requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to assist survivor dealing with the aftermath of violence.

Access to Unemployment Benefits

• The SAFE for Survivors Act allows victims in every state access to unemployment benefits if they are fired or forced to leave their job because of abuse.

Insurance Protections for Survivors

• The SAFE for Survivors Act prohibits denial or restriction of insurance coverage based on the status of the applicant or insured regarding abuse or abuse related claims, ensuring that victims are not punished for their abusers' crimes.

In addition to Blumenthal, the SAFE for Survivors Act is led by U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and cosponsored by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Bob Casey (D-PA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).

In the House of Representatives, the SAFE for Survivors Act is led by Representatives Debbie Dingell (MI-06) and Gwen Moore (WI-04) and cosponsored by Representatives Ann Kuster (NH-02), Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Raul Grijalva (AZ-07), and Barbara Lee (CA-12)

A section by section of the SAFE for Survivors Act is available here.

Bill text is available here.

Video of Blumenthal's remarks in Hartford can be found here.

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