On Tuesday, the US Senate voted 78-22 to renew the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) which guarantees $659 million in funding over the next five years for victims of domestic violence, dating violence and stalking. The bill also protects immigrants, gays and Native Americans from domestic and sexual violence.
Although the bill passed with an overwhelming majority, Marco Rubio, a key leader in the GOP, and other Republicans voted against it. Rubio released a statement explaining that he does not support the bill because he finds the federal spending as well as the criminal prosecution of those who assault Native American women troubling.
"Unfortunately, I could not support the final, entire legislation that contains new provisions that could have potentially adverse consequences," said Rubio. "Specifically, this bill would mandate the diversion of a portion of funding from domestic violence programs to sexual assault programs, although there's no evidence to suggest this shift will result in a greater number of convictions. These funding decisions should be left up to the state-based coalitions that understand local needs best, but instead this new legislation would put those decisions into the hands of distant Washington bureaucrats in the Department of Justice. Additionally, I have concerns regarding the conferring of criminal jurisdiction to some Indian tribal governments over all persons in Indian country, including non-Indians."
Before the bill was passed, Sen. Patrick Leahy, the bill's sponsor, criticized opponents of the legislation saying, "It is difficult to understand why people would come in here and try to limit which victims could be helped by this legislation," Leahy said. "If you're the victim, you don't want to think that a lot of us who have never faced this kind of problem, sat here in this body and said, 'Well, we have to differentiate which victims America will protect.'"
The House, which is controlled by the GOP, will vote on the VAWA next.