In 1994, Congress enacted the full faith and credit
provisions of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) [18
U.S.C. § 2265-66]. The federal law directs jurisdictions to
give full faith and credit to valid orders of protection issued
by other jurisdictions. This includes all 50 states, Indian
tribal lands, the District of Columbia, the US Virgin Islands,
Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana
Islands, and Guam. The full faith and credit provisions were
amended in October 2000.