DENVER (CBS4) - Sen. Michael Bennet on Friday stopped by the Rape Awareness and Assistance Program (RAAP) in Denver to bring attention to the need to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).

Bennet toured the facility and sat down with advocates.

"RAAP is an incredible resource and source of support for victims of domestic and sexual abuse," Bennet said. "The Violence Against Women Act supports organizations like RAAP, as well as our law enforcement, in their efforts to prevent crimes against women; and that work is just as important now as it was when this law was first written. Reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act will help ensure these critical protections remain available."

VAWA advances efforts to combat domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The bill provides essential resources to state and local law enforcement to investigate and prosecute crimes, and to non-profit organizations that supply essential services for victims and survivors.

Since VAWA was originally enacted, reporting of domestic violence has increased by as much as 51 percent.

The act expired last year and is operating on a temporary authorization which expires in September. A full, long-term reauthorization, which would extend VAWA through 2016, is expected to come before the Senate as early as next week.

Violence Against Women In Colorado

-- 1 in 4 women in Colorado has reported being raped in her lifetime.
-- In 2009, 9 percent of students reported having experienced relationship violence (i.e., being hit by a boyfriend or a girlfriend).
-- 11.1 percent of female youth and 4.4% of male youth report having been physically forced to have sexual intercourse.
-- Almost half of all murders in Colorado are committed by an intimate partner. The vast majority of the victims are female.