I had heard, in mid-2012, that the VAWA had not yet been re-authorized. Both the Senate and the House passed different versions of the re-authorized law but didn't agree on a reconciliation bill. I was not sure and didn't pay close attention.
Yesterday, in the hubbub of the fiscal cliff, debt ceiling, and the swearing in of the 113th Congress, a reporter let slip about the unfinished work of the 112th Congress. It included VAWA! VAWA was never re-authorized in 2012 and EXPIRED on Dec. 31, 2012.
So, as of the first of the year, VAWA, and its derivative law IMBRA, are NO LONGER IN EFFECT!!
At least that is my understanding based on my reading of the current news. Is there a lawyer in our midst who can shed light on this situation? Can we speculate on whether our new Congress will re-authorize the Act in its entirety, or perhaps only re-authorize parts of it and leave others, such as IMBRA, for later debate?
Now I better understand why business generally likes a do-nothing Congress! LOL!!