Larson pushes for anti-violence against women act

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut U.S. Rep. John Larson is stepping up pressure on his Republican colleagues in congress to extend and expand Violence Against Women Act.

Larson was an original co-sponsor of the Violence Against Women Act that expired in 2011, putting efforts to improve its many federal programs on hold. The Senate voted Tuesday to renew it with new assurances that gays and lesbians, immigrants and Native American women will have equal access to the act's anti-domestic violence programs. House Republican leaders are working to come up with their own version.

On Tuesday, Larson will join the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the Connecticut Sexual Assault Crisis Services and several state leaders for a discussion on the act that has shielded millions of women from abuse and helped reduce national rates of domestic violence.