Breaking Financial Chains: Beatty & Casten’s New Bill Helps Women in Abusive Situations

WASHINGTON, DC- Today, during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) and Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) introduced the Financial Empowerment and Protection Act, legislation aimed at removing barriers to the financial information often necessary for women to safely leave abusive relationships.

Under the Financial Empowerment and Protection Act, mortgage lenders, landlords, utility providers, and childcare providers would be required to offer joint accounts for cohabitating or co-parenting couples. Oftentimes, abusive partners use financial limitations as a method of control to prevent a victim from leaving the situation. This means that people leaving abusive relationships may have limited access to pay their own bills; and may lose access to housing, childcare, and transportation. Domestic violence shelters report that information about these accounts is commonly withheld during the dissolution of abusive relationships. This legislation aims to circumvent this, allowing victims equal access and visibility into their household finances.

"Financial control is often used to trap women in abusive relationships by limiting their economic and physical independence," said Congresswoman Beatty."This bill provides crucial protection by ensuring equal access to and control over shared household finances, empowering women to make decisions for their wellbeing and future. I'm proud to join Congressman Casten in introducing this bill to help protect and support women, especially those in crisis, in building secure, independent lives."

"Far too often, we hear stories of victims of abuse who feel trapped in their situation due to limited or no insight into their household finances," said Congressman Casten."This legislation, which came out of one such story from a constituent who called in, aims to take away that lever of control from an abuser, empowering women to make their own financial decisions."

"For too long, financial abuse has been used by abusers to hold on to power and control over women-with laws on the books that allow them to withhold financial information women need to leave abusive relationships and build security of their own," said Christian F. Nunes, president of the National Organization for Women."Rep. Casten's bill will finally correct this dangerous gap in our laws and unlock doors to financial freedom women urgently need."

"Survivors of domestic violence deserve safeguards that sustain their financial stability and security. Maintaining survivors' access to shared accounts, such as cell phone, utility and mortgage accounts, is one of many policy solutions needed to better preserve their economic well-being," said Jocelyn Frye, president of the National Partnership for Women & Families. "The Financial Empowerment and Protection Act would give power back to survivors by providing them with the tools to regain or retain their independence. We are grateful to Representatives Casten and Beatty for their tremendous efforts to support survivors and their families."

This bill has endorsements from the National Partnership for Women & Families, National Organization for Women (NOW), the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault.

Text of the legislation can be found here(link is external).

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, an opportunity to raise awareness of domestic violence and its impact on individuals, families, and communities and work together to create change.

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