Alert

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (Mo.) and Amy Klobuchar (Minn.) today introduced the Safeguarding Addresses from Emerging (SAFE) at Home Act, a bipartisan measure that would strengthen privacy protections for victims of domestic violence. The bill would allow victims of domestic violence who are participating in state Address Confidentiality Programs (ACP) to use their confidential substitute address when creating new public records at the federal level, preventing the disclosure of their actual physical address.

“Victims of abuse and domestic violence deserve to feel safe and protected in their own homes,” Blunt said. “Missouri, along with 35 other states, has taken an important step by implementing Address Confidentiality Programs to prevent abusers from locating their victims. This bill will ensure victims have the same privacy protections whether they’re applying for a passport or a local library card. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill, which will help reduce violence and keep families safe.”

“As a former prosecutor, I’ve been focused on helping victims of domestic violence and human trafficking break free from abuse,” Klobuchar said. “Our bipartisan legislation would provide survivors with the peace of mind of knowing that their addresses are confidential as they work to rebuild their lives.”

Currently, thirty-six states have established ACPs, which provide a confidential substitute mailing address for victims of domestic violence who have relocated to a residence unknown to their perpetrator. However, ambiguity exists as to whether federal agencies and courts are required to recognize state-created substitute addresses. The bill would require federal agencies and courts to accept an ACP participants’ confidential substitute address as the actual physical address when creating a new public record. The bill will also allow ACP participants to provide their confidential substitute address to any federal agency without being charged with the crime of giving a false statement or information in regards to the address they provide. 

The bill has garnered widespread support from several organizations, including: the National Network to End Domestic Violence, the National District Attorneys Association, the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, the Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, the Rose Brooks Domestic Violence Center in Kansas City, Mo., the Harmony House Domestic Violence Shelter in Springfield, Mo., and the Women's Safe House Domestic Violence Shelter in St. Louis, Mo.

The SAFE at Home Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (Conn.), Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.), John Cornyn (Texas), Maggie Hassan (N.H.), and Claire McCaskill (Mo.).

U.S. Representative Jason Smith (Mo.) introduced companion legislation in the House.