The men opposing the Violence Against Women Act

If you think that domestic violence is history, think again.

A few days ago, a young acquaintance, age 20, in the early stages of pregnancy, reported to me that in the midst of an argument with her partner, he kicked her in the stomach and caused her to miscarry.  At the time I spoke to her, he was already in jail. She had pressed charges and was prepared to go to court to see justice done. Her experience motivated me to sign Credo's petition below in support of the Violence Against Women Act, and I'm hoping that hundreds of you will do the same

The men opposing the Violence Against Women Act Right now, the Senate is poised to pass the Violence Against Women Act with bipartisan support. But the overwhelmingly male House Republicans caucus, led by Eric Cantor and John Boehner, stand in the way of protecting victims of domestic violence. We need you to act now to ensure that the Senate bill is passed quickly by the Republican-controlled House. Momentum is on our side. Last year, ten Republicans in the House broke rank with their party and joined Democrats in support of reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. Eight of those Republicans remain in Congress. On the Senate side, Republican women Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins and Kelly Ayotte are all co-sponsoring the bill. It's time to increase the public pressure on the 212 male Republicans in the House to get with their Republican women colleagues and pass the strong Senate version of the VAWA reauthorization bill. Women's lives are at risk, and there is no more time for partisan delay. Tell Republican men in the House: Stop blocking the Violence Against Women Act. Click here to automatically sign the petition. The Senate version of the bill is expected to handily pass a floor vote this week with the help of new women Senators from both parties who were elected amidst a national backlash against Tea Party extremists like rape-apologists Todd Akin and Richard Mourdock. VAWA is an incredibly popular and successful program that has reduced domestic violence rates by 58% since it was first passed in 1994. And it was approved in bipartisan votes every year since it was originally passed — until the radical takeover of the House by extremist, anti-women Republicans in 2010. We know that we can't count on Republican men to vote in the interest of their constituents without enormous public pressure from us. House Republican men have voted for shameful bills to redefine rape, defund Planned Parenthood, and to let women die. Despite their appalling record on women's issues, there is hope that men in the Republican caucus in the House will join with their Republican women colleagues in the senate and show concern for domestic violence survivors. Tell Republican men in the House: Stop blocking the Violence Against Women Act. Click below to automatically sign the petition: http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=6993722&p=cantor_vawa&id=54425-4150669-qOgOUox&t=4 Thank you for standing up for women. Becky Bond, Political Director CREDO Action from Working Assets Automatically add your name: Learn more about this campaign

Senate passes expanded version of the Violence Against Women Act

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (Democrat, Minn.) championed VAWA.

Democrats and Republicans continue their struggle to win the women’s vote. On the surface at least, this is a good thing. It suggests awareness at long last by our two major political parties that women represent 51 percent of the body politic.

And it is unquestionably good news that the senate just passed an expanded version of the Violence Against Women Act, so movingly supported by Wisc. Rep. Gwen Moore a few weeks ago on the House floor (watch the video).

David Grant at the Christian Science Monitor reports:

A new version of the Violence Against Women Act, the legislation that Democratsused as a backdrop to accuse Republicans of waging a "war on women," passed the Senate Thursday afternoon 68 to 31.

Fifteen Republicans joined every Democrat in voting for the measure. The passage reauthorizes a wide variety of services for abused women and men for five years.

"This violence must end," said Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D) of Minnesota, one of the bill's main champions, on the Senate floor Thursday. "And so we all know that we can no longer stand and say it is someone else's problem. We can't let our own differences, minor that they may be on various provisions, get in the way."

Grant’s report continues:

Senate Democrats added provisions to VAWA that would help gays and lesbians receive domestic-abuse protections, make more temporary visas available for battered women in the United States illegally, and offer native American women more protection.

"A victim is a victim is a victim," thundered Sen. Patrick Leahy (D) of Vermont, one of the bill's lead sponsors, on the Senate floor Thursday. "You don't say we can help you if you fit in this category, but sorry battered woman, you're on your own, because you're in the wrong category. That's not America."

A Republican majority in the House, however, threatens final passage of the Senate’s version of the bill:

In the lower chamber, Republicans led by Reps. Sandy Adams of Florida and Kristi Noem of South Dakota offered the outline of their VAWA bill Wednesday. While still being drafted, the bill will all but certainly not contain the Senate's trio of controversial provisions.

In support of the Violence Against Women Act, Wisc. Rep. Gwen Moore recounts her personal experience of sexual abuse (video)

Rep. Moore, official portrait.

Friends of Katalusis,

The video below shows Wisconsin Congresswoman Gwen Moore’s impassioned speech in which she recounted her personal history of sexual abuse. Rep. Moore spoke on the House floor in support of  renewing the Violence Against Women Act that nevertheless failed to pass. After you watch the video, sign the petition from Credo that follows it.

 

The latest attack on women is over the Violence Against Women Act.

The last time this program was reauthorized, it passed nearly unanimously through the House and Senate — but incredibly, the all-male Republican block on the Senate Judiciary Committee voted down the bill.

That's right: Republicans are now standing in the way of reauthorizing an incredibly popular and successful program that has reduced domestic violence rates by 58% since it was first passed in 1994.

Tell Republican leadership to stop playing politics with women's lives and pass the Violence Against Women Act now! Click here to automatically sign the petition.

Voting to defund Planned Parenthood, redefine rape, and block access to contraception has not been enough for anti-woman members of Congress — they now want to block funding for victims of domestic violence.

Every female Senator — including 5 Republicans — supports this important act. And yet the bill only has 58 co-sponsors, two votes shy of the 60 votes needed to defeat a promised Republican filibuster.

Even as their party continues to lead attacks on women, Republican leadership should honor the wishes of the women in their own caucus and call off the filibuster.

Tell Republican leadership to stop playing politics with women's lives and pass the Violence Against Women Act now! Click here to automatically sign the petition.

Blocking funding for victims of domestic violence is low, even for this Republican Congress. With enough pressure from the grassroots and the all of women in the Senate Republican caucus co-sponsoring the bill, we can stop the filibuster and pass reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.

Tell Republican leadership to stop playing politics with women's lives and pass the Violence Against Women Act now! Click below to automatically sign the petition:

http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5542989&id=37476-4150669-MPL%3Dhgx&t=10

Thank you for standing up for women.

Ali Rozell, Campaign Manager

CREDO Action from Working Assets