W. MI woman discusses anti-violence law

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - A West Michigan woman will be attending the United Nations Commission meeting to discuss the extension of the U.S Violence Against Women Act.

Betty Zylstra is the Salvation Army director of social services for Kent County. She has been appointed to attend the meeting in New York this weekend, and will weigh in on the global discussion about the act.  

The law was originally passed in 1994 to set the standard for anti-violence programs in the country. After the bill expired in 2011, Congress debated whether the law's protections should extend to lesbians, gays, immigrants and Native American women.

Congress failed to pass a Republican version of the law, but the House approved the Senate plan to expand coverage to those other groups on Thursday.

The bill will now go to President Obama, who said that he will sign it into law.

Watch the interview above with Betty Zylstra to learn more about her role in the discussion.