North Country Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is accusing Democrats in the House of Representatives of refusing to work with Republican colleagues on an extension of the Violence Against Women Act to protect victims of domestic abuse.

The current law expired in February when, Stefanik’s office says, Democrats “refused” to work with Republicans to extend VAWA in the compromise funding bill.

Stefanik’s office said she introduced a one-year extension “in order to continue critical services to survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence while Congress works on bipartisan reauthorization of VAWA.”

“Since being signed into law in 1994, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) has protected millions of women from domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking,” Stefanik said in a prepared statement. “Given the proven and tangible results of this legislation, it would be nonsensical to fail to pass a clean reauthorization to ensure these critical protections for women across America continue. I am proud to stand with my colleagues to protect women, and I urge Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats to set aside partisanship and bring this bill to the floor and pass it immediately.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control, about 1 in 3 women experience some sort of sexual violence in their lifetime in America.

Programs authorized and funded under VAWA work to protect girls and women from these crimes.

The programs provide funding to ensure safety and support for survivors, increase prevention efforts, expand educational awareness surrounding domestic violence and sexual assault, implement training for health professionals and law enforcement, and to coordinate responses across agencies.