Congressman Connolly (D-VA) today voted against a Republican-sponsored bill that weakened protections for battered women (H.R. 4970) and called on the House majority to put politics aside and join Democrats to pass the bipartisan Senate Violence Against Women Act. 

“House Republicans say they want to prevent violence against women, yet because of their ideological agenda, the bill on the floor this week actually eliminates current protections for battered women, placing them in danger,” said Connolly. 

“Domestic violence does not respect any boundary; it does not discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or political affiliation,” Connolly said.  “Protecting women and children from abusive situations should not be a partisan issue.  We should take up the Senate’s bipartisan bill and not further erode protections for women.”

The Senate-passed version enjoyed wide bipartisan support, passing 68-31, with 15 Republicans voting yes.  The House bill would greatly limit those who would be protected and make it harder for women to come forward to report abuse.  Law enforcement officials from across the nation have come out against the House Republican bill, saying it “will turn back the clock on over 17 years of progress made by law enforcement in reducing violence against women and children in our communities.”