HARRISONBURG -- Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner are pushing to renew an act to protect all women against domestic violence, called the Violence against Women Act. The bill could pass in the Senate by the end of the week.

Supporters say the act should protect all women, including minority groups, like Native Americans and lesbians.

Candy Phillips is the director of First Step, an emergency shelter for victims of domestic abuse and their children. She hopes lawmakers will support this act to help even more people.

"I think that this is important so that people understand that barriers that they felt like were there for them are lifted. They have a voice, they have protection, they can get assistance," said Phillips.

The original Act against Violence expired in 2011, so this act would be an expansion and extension of that law.

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