S. 5113Senate117th Congress (2021-2023)In Committee

VAWA Technical Amendment Act of 2022

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 8, 2026 at 6:20 PM UTC

The VAWA Technical Amendment Act of 2022 updates federal grant and service language to include Native Hawaiians alongside Native Americans. It changes wording in the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act and the Violence Against Women Act so that Native Hawaiian individuals, communities, and organizations can receive the same assistance. The bill also provides a definition for “Native Hawaiian” by referencing existing law. This affects agencies that award grants and provide services under these statutes.

Key Provisions

Amends Section 2001(d) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act to add “or Native Hawaiian” in multiple references, expanding eligibility for grants and programs to Native Hawaiian individuals, communities, and organizations.
Adds a definition for “Native Hawaiian” that mirrors the definition in the Native American Housing Assistance and Self‑Determination Act of 1996.
Amends Section 40002(a)(42) of the Violence Against Women Act to insert “Native Hawaiian organizations, or the Native Hawaiian community” and similar language, ensuring Native Hawaiian entities are included among eligible service providers and grant recipients.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

November 16, 2022

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

November 16, 2022

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

November 16, 2022

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

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Introduced in SenateIssued November 16, 2022

117th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 5113

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

November 16, 2022

Ms. Hirono introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To make a technical amendment to the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the VAWA Technical Amendment Act of 2022.

Grants to combat violent crimes

(a)

Amendment

Section 2001(d) of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10441(d)) is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (1)—

(A)

in subparagraph (A), by inserting or Native Hawaiian after Indian;

(B)

in subparagarph (B), by inserting or Native Hawaiian after Indian;

(C)

in subparagraph (C)—

(i)

by inserting or Native Hawaiian communities after tribal communities; and

(ii)

by inserting or Native Hawaiian after Indian; and

(D)

in subparagraph (D)—

(i)

by inserting or Native Hawaiian communities after Indian tribes; and

(ii)

by inserting or Native Hawaiian after against Indian;

(2)

in paragraph (2)—

(A)

in subparagraph (A)(iii), by inserting or Native Hawaiian communities after Indian tribes; and

(B)

in subparagraph (B), by inserting or Native Hawaiian communities after Indian tribes; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following:

(6)

Native Hawaiian defined

In this subsection, the term Native Hawaiian has the meaning given that term in section 801 of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4221).

(b)

Technical and conforming amendment

Section 40002(a)(42) of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (34 U.S.C. 12291(a)(42)) is amended—

(1)

in subparagraph (A)—

(A)

by inserting , Native Hawaiian organizations, or the Native Hawaiian community after Indian service providers;

(B)

by inserting , organizations, or communities after member providers; and

(C)

by inserting or Native Hawaiian after designed to assist Indian; and

(2)

in subparagraph (B)—

(A)

in clause (i), by inserting , organizations, or communities after member service providers; and

(B)

in clause (ii), by inserting or Native Hawaiian communities after tribal communities.