Senator Joni Ernst has been at the center of efforts to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act in the Senate; she is also one of a few women in Congress who have disclosed their own experiences as survivors of intimate partner violence. In this interview, Senator Ernst stresses that anyone can be affected by gender-based violence—regardless of income level, geographic location, or political party—and discusses how she is using her platform as a U.S. Senator to raise awareness, encourage difficult conversations, and fight for greater resources for all women who suffer violence.