On Thursday, the House of Representatives approved a renewed version of 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.
Every House Democrat voted in favor of the bill, however only a handful of Republicans backed it, despite its widespread public support. Instead, Republicans tried to pass their own version of the VAWA which eliminated parts of the bill that they found problematic. That included provisions from the Senate approved bill that specifically helps Native Americans, undocumented immigrants and lesbian, transgender and bisexual women. After a 90 minute debate, the House GOP bill failed to win bipartisan support. The House then voted 286-138 to pass the Senate version. Only 87 Republicans joined the 199 Democrats to provide majority support.
In a statement, President Obama confirmed that he is looking "forward to signing it into law as soon as it hits my desk" He added that it was "an important step towards making sure no one in America is forced to live in fear."
Originally passed in 1994 and reauthorized since, the act provides support for organizations that serve domestic violence victims. Criminal prosecutions of abusers are generally the responsibility of local authorities, but the act strengthened sentences for stalking under federal law.
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi questioned why Republicans would seek to weaken a measure that received strong bipartisan support in a 78-22 Senate vote earlier this year. "It's really hard to explain why, what eyes the Republicans are looking through, that they do not see the folly of their ways in the legislation they are proposing," Pelosi said.
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