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The Violence Against Women Act, passed 18 years ago Thursday, has yet to be reauthorized by Congress, prompting a rebuke from Vice President Joe Biden.

The landmark law was the basis for much of the nation's efforts to curb domestic abuse and address other women's health issues a generation ago. But, Biden said, more still needs to be done to keep women safe.

"Three women still die every day as a result of domestic violence," Biden said. "One in five women have been raped, many as teenagers, and one in six women have been victims of stalking."

In the years since the Violence Against Women Act was passed, domestic violence has dropped more than 60 percent. Congress must reauthorize the bill, but questions over expanding its protections to illegal immigrants, same-sex couples and Native Americans included by the Democratic Senate and not by the Republican House, have stalled the effort, Politico reported.

"[The Violence Against Women Act] is just as important today as it was when it first became law, and I urge Congress to keep the promise we made to our daughters and our granddaughters on that day -- that we would work together to keep them safe," Biden said.