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- The 2013 renewal of VAWA was a federal reauthorization law
- The official text is published in the Statutes at Large
- The Act covered several broad legal areas in one package
- Grant programs were a central feature of the 2013 law
- Federal criminal law changes were included for certain conduct
- Housing and immigration topics appeared because VAWA reaches beyond criminal cases
- Tribal justice provisions were addressed in a dedicated title
- State law can still matter even when the topic is a federal VAWA statute
- Primary federal publishing sites provide the best reference copies
- Sources
Key Facts
- Federal level: The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 became Public Law 113-4 on March 7, 2013.
- Federal level: The 2013 Act reauthorized and amended parts of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994.
- Federal level: The law is organized into multiple titles that address subjects such as grants, criminal provisions, housing, immigration, and tribal justice.
- Federal level: Title VI of Public Law 113-4 addresses housing protections connected to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
- Federal level: Title VIII of Public Law 113-4 is labeled as protections for battered immigrants.
- Federal level: Title IX of Public Law 113-4 includes provisions addressing tribal jurisdiction over crimes of domestic violence.
- Federal and state: Several provisions in the 2013 Act describe federal funding programs that can involve states, territories, tribes, and local entities.
- Federal level: Congress.gov publishes both a summary and the full legislative text history for S. 47, the bill that became Public Law 113-4.
As of February 2026, this overview reflects the published text and bill history for Public Law 113-4, and later legal changes may affect how related programs operate.
The 2013 renewal of VAWA was a federal reauthorization law
VAWA is a federal law framework that Congress has reauthorized and amended over time, including through the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (Public Law 113-4).
The official text is published in the Statutes at Large
The enacted law appears in the Statutes at Large as 127 Stat. 54, which includes the Act’s table of contents and section text.
The Act covered several broad legal areas in one package
Rather than creating one single program, Public Law 113-4 grouped many provisions under different titles, which helps explain why VAWA discussions often touch on courts, housing, immigration, and tribal justice in the same breath.
Grant programs were a central feature of the 2013 law
Multiple sections in Public Law 113-4 address federal grant authorities and conditions, including provisions that reference awards to states, tribes, and U.S. territories in different program areas.
Federal criminal law changes were included for certain conduct
The Congress.gov bill summary describes amendments to federal criminal law within the 2013 Act, including a provision relating to stalking that references the use of electronic communication services.
Housing and immigration topics appeared because VAWA reaches beyond criminal cases
Titles such as housing protections (Title VI) and protections for battered immigrants (Title VIII) show that VAWA-related laws can address stability and safety concerns alongside justice-system provisions.
Tribal justice provisions were addressed in a dedicated title
Title IX is labeled “Safety for Indian Women” in the published law’s structure, and it includes a section addressing tribal jurisdiction over crimes of domestic violence.
State law can still matter even when the topic is a federal VAWA statute
Although Public Law 113-4 is federal legislation, many real-world services and systems referenced in federal grant programs commonly operate through state, local, territorial, and tribal entities.
Primary federal publishing sites provide the best reference copies
GovInfo provides a public record entry for Public Law 113-4, and Congress.gov provides the bill’s actions, summaries, and text versions tied to S. 47.
