Angelina Jolie Visits White House To Discuss Violence Against Women Act

Actress Angelina Jolie visited the White House on Wednesday as she continues to meet with officials and make a case for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).

The Act, which creates programs and provides support to victims of domestic and sexual assault, expired more than two years ago. As part of her efforts, Jolie met with White House press secretary Jen Psaki, communications director Kate Bedingfield and White House Gender Policy Council co-chair Jennifer Klein, a White House official told CNN.

“Met briefly this morning with the tireless and committed #AngelinaJolie this morning to talk about the importance of reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act and the importance of continuing to fight for women, children and families around the world," Psaki tweeted.

The House approved the reauthorization in March by a bipartisan vote of 244 to 172, but it did not make it through the Senate.

In efforts to reauthorize this Clinton-era law, Jolie has been making her way around Washington. Prior to her White House visit, Jolie met with Capitol Hill lawmakers on Tuesday to discuss the bill in what she described as “good, bipartisan meetings" that were “encouraging.”

"It's a health crisis, what is happening," Jolie told reporters at the White House. "And it's going to be solved if we look at it as health and families and invest. ... And there is the harm within the families, especially for the children and getting the care early, and the prevention."

A spokesperson for Jolie told CBS News that her meetings would also encompass discussions on “FBI reforms, judicial training, and health equity including non-biased forensic evidence collection."

"UNHCR Special Envoy Angelina Jolie is in D.C for a second-day meeting with senior White House and DOJ officials, and senators to continue to advocate for the rights of women and children and health in families," a spokesperson for Jolie said.