Joining with Women’s Rights Advocates, Cicilline Condemns Republican-VAWA Proposal

U.S. Congressman David Cicilline (D-RI) today criticized his Republican colleagues for passing their own controversial version of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act instead of taking up the strong, bipartisan Senate-passed bill that strengthens protections for all victims of domestic and sexual violence.

“Reauthorizing important provisions that help ensure the safety of women, children, and all victims of domestic and sexual abuse across our country should be routine – even in Washington, D.C.  But once again, House Republicans are allowing a far-right ideology to interfere with a commonsense approach to protecting women and families from violence.  Women’s lives are too important for another round of Congressional brinksmanship,” said Cicilline. 

Last month, 15 Senate Republicans voted with Democrats to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act – legislation that since 1994 has provided important resources to prevent domestic violence, sexual assault, and other threats to women’s security.  A week ago, however, the House Committee on the Judiciary approved a separate version of the legislation that newspapers have criticized as “regressive” and “shameful.”

The House Republican proposal that was considered leaves out improvements that the Senate passed, including protections for immigrant women, college students, and gay and transgendered Americans.  The House approved the measure earlier tonight, by a vote of 222-205.

“Last year, more than 13,000 hotline calls were answered by the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic violence.  Republicans are wrong to put the safety and well-being of these women second to an extreme political ideology.  The House should immediately withdraw this proposal and consider the bipartisan Senate legislation that would provide effective protections for all victims of sexual or domestic violence,” continued Cicilline.