Happy Friday! Welcome to our Media Round Up. Each week we’re collecting and sharing our favorite gender + politics stories. Here’s what caught our eye this week:

Congress moves to reauthorize Violence Against Women Act

Chandelis Duster, CNN

On Monday, the House of Representatives introduced the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2021 which will reauthorize a bill previously co-sponsored by President Biden in 1994 that expired in 2018. The new version of the legislation will build upon the original and help to fund groups that deal with domestic violence and sexual assault issues, as well as provide housing access to survivors. President and CEO of the National Network to End Domestic Violence, Deborah Vagins, said that the organization fully supports the VAWA and will work with Congress to ensure that the final bill guarantees rights and protections to immigrant survivors of abuse.

You can read the full article here.

What the election of Asian American GOP women means for the party

Jane Hong, The Washington Post

While the GOP has received criticism for its lack of diversity, Reps. Young Kim and Michelle Steel of California are set to break that mold. As two of the first three Korean American women elected to Congress and as Republican women of color, their standing is already being positioned by party leaders like Kevin McCarthy to disprove allegations that the GOP is anti-woman or anti-immigrant. Asian American voters tend to be extremely politically diverse, with nearly 2 in 5 voters registered with neither political party.

You can read the full article here.

On International Women’s Day, Biden signs orders on gender equity, nominates two women to be four-star commanders

Courtney Subramanian, USA Today

On International Women’s Day, President Biden marked the occasion by signing an order to establish a Gender Policy Council, nominating two women as four-star generals and making significant changes to Title IX, a law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in education. If confirmed, General Jacqueline Van Ovost and Lt. General Laura Richardson will make history as the second and third women to ever lead a combatant command. “We all need to see and recognize the barrier-breaking accomplishments of these women,” President Biden said. “We need the young women just beginning their careers in military service to see it and know that no door will be closed to them.”

You can read the full article here.

Republicans clash with Biden DOJ nominee Vanita Gupta

Jeremy Herb, CNN

On Tuesday, Associate Attorney General nominee Vanita Gupta faced backlash during her confirmation hearing due to past tweets in which she talked about decriminalizing drugs and defunding the police. Senate Republicans also questioned Gupta’s ability to represent all Americans in her new role considering her previous online criticism aimed at Republicans. Gupta apologized for her tweets and said that, if confirmed, she would take a nonpartisan approach. “I regret the harsh rhetoric that I have used at times in the last several years,” she said. “I can pledge to you today that if I am confirmed, you won’t be hearing that kind of rhetoric for me.”

You can read the full article here.

Looking at the history of women in Congress — the work is just beginning

Gennette Cordova, Revolt

The 117^th Congress is the most diverse in history, including more women, people of color and LGBTQ individuals than any congressional meeting in history. However, even with this progress there is far from equal representation, with each record broken just demonstrating how much work there is yet to be done. As we continue to see more women stepping into political leadership, it’s crucial to keep pushing for more women legislators.

You can read the full article here.