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HR 394 108th Congress House Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Civil actions and liability Civil rights enforcement Commerce Crime and Law Enforcement Crimes against women Criminal investigation Damages Discrimination in criminal justice administration Drug abuse Drug traffic Government Operations and Politics Government liability Hate crimes Injunctions Interstate commerce Law Liability (Law) Prosecution Punitive damages

Violence Against Women Civil Rights Restoration Act of 2003

Introduced: January 28, 2003 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 108th Congress ended
It never became law before the 108th Congress (2003–2004) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 6, 2003
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Jan 28, 2003
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jan 28, 2003
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service
Violence Against Women Civil Rights Restoration Act of 2003 - Rewrites provisions of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 regarding remedies for civil rights violations. Makes a person who commits a crime of violence motivated by gender and thus deprives another of a prescribed right liable to the injured party where: (1) in connection with the offense, the defendant or the victim travels in interstate or foreign commerce, the defendant or the victim uses a facility or instrumentality of interstate or foreign commerce, or the defendant employs a weapon, a narcotic or drug listed under the Controlled Substances Act, or other noxious or dangerous substances that have traveled in interstate or foreign commerce; (2) the offense interferes with commercial or other economic activity in which the victim is engaged; or (3) the offense was committed with intent to interfere with the victim's commercial or other economic activity.

Authorizes the Attorney General, whenever there is reasonable cause to believe that any State, political subdivision, official, employee, or agent thereof has discriminated on the basis of gender in the investigation or prosecution of gender-based crimes and that discrimination is pursuant to a pattern or practice of resistance to investigating or prosecuting gender-based crimes, to institute a civil action in U.S. district court for appropriate equitable relief.

What's happening now March 6, 2003

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 394: Violence Against Women Civil Rights Restoration Act of 2003. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-394/
MLA
"H.R. 394: Violence Against Women Civil Rights Restoration Act of 2003." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-394/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 394, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-394/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 394: Violence Against Women Civil Rights Restoration Act of 2003](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-394/)
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