Democratic senators tell House to pass Violence Against Women Act

Leahy called the Republican Party hypocritical for saying its members are committed to women’s issues in their platform released at the GOP convention in Tampa, Fla., two weeks ago.

{mosads}“I would give some advice to my Republican friends, if they wanted to prove that commitment to women, they could pass the Violence Against Women Act,” Leahy said.

VAWA provides funding to programs to prevent domestic violence and sexual abuse against women. The Senate version expands the law to include immigrants, native Americans and LGBT victims. Under a technicality called a “blue slip” the House has said it won’t vote on the Senate version because it increases funding and revenue measures are supposed to originate in the House.

“Republican leaders in both the Senate and House have hidden behind a procedural rule … that obstruction has to end,” Leahy said. “If you’re someone who has been battered and abused, don’t talk to that person about technicalities.”

Murray pointed out that it has been one year since the legislation expired.

“It’s long past time for Speaker Boehner to start looking past ideology,” Murray said. “It’s time for them to do the right thing and pass the Senate’s inclusive and bipartisan legislation to protect women.

“We’re going to keep pushing until Speaker Boehner takes up this bill.”