Congresswoman Laura Richardson Rises in Opposition to H.Res. 656 Rule Providing Consideration of H.R. 4970, Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H. Res. 656, Rule Providing Consideration of H.R. 4970, Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act. Reporting a closed rule for the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act is another example of shutting Democrats out of the legislation process by ruling out any opportunity for Democrats to offer much needed Amendments.

The House version of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act unfortunately omits improvements contained in the Senate version of the bill. What is worse is that the House version in its current form removes existing protections for immigrant women, and puts them at greater risk of domestic and sexual abuse, and it does not provide adequate and equal protection for tribal women and the LGBT community.

For nearly two decades now, Democrats have firmly supported the Violence Against Women Act and the critical assistance it has provided for women, men, and children, and have worked with Republicans to ensure its reauthorization twice in the past. Unfortunately, since Republicans have taken over the House, bipartisanship and compromise have fallen out of fashion. Republicans have continually played partisan politics and refused to compromise in an effort to move this country forward, and here we are again with another clear example of that.

Reporting a closed rule for consideration of Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act is a full-fledged promotion of the Republican attack against women and approval of legislation that is intended to silence the cries of millions of women around our country.

Violence Against Women Act has never been and should never be a partisan issue. It is astonishing how the Republican majority has lost sight of our purpose as lawmakers. We have been trusted with the responsibility of protecting society and ensuring justice to victims. Democrats and Republicans have always worked together to reauthorize Violence Against Women Act since its original passage in 1994. But that is not the case today.

This rule completely shuts out Democrats and does not allow for the possibility of a bipartisan consensus. I cannot support a rule making in order a bill that strips immigrant women, tribal women and the LGBT community of vital protections as this bill does.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to stand with me in opposition to this rule.