we pass the vawa -- we passed the vawa reauthorization act in the senate last april but the house did not let it go to the president for signature and enactment so we are back here today voting on the bill again. because those of us who believe in vawa will continue to fight for the bill's passage until it's signed into law. i encourage my colleagues, both in the senate and in the house, to come together to work toward ending the violence and support this bill. the bill's managers, judiciary committee chairman pat leahy and senator mike crapo, have demonstrated remarkable resolve and leadership. we are all grateful for that, and i'd like to thank them as well for inviting notice author two parts of the -- inviting me to author two parts of the vawa reauthorization bill which i'd like to describe briefly. first, the vawa reauthorization act includes provisions from the justice for survivors of sexual assault act. we just heard senator hagan talk about an aspect of that. this is one of the first bills that i introduced after being sworn into the senate. when this bill becomes law, never

i rise in support of vawa. yelling, name-calling, black eyes, bruises, belts, broken bottles, children scared and crying in the corners, crying for it to stop, the lies and cover-up us to friends and family and then the abuser gains the control and says i'm sorry. i love you. i won't do it again. i'll change. and the victim stays again and again and again year after year. the cycle of violence goes on from generation to generation just like brittany from tipton county, indiana. abused by her drug addict mother. married a man that was a victim of child abuse. and the cycle continued. brittany's husband verbally and physically abused her while their children watched. whether you are in a poor family, rich family, whether you're in the city, country or on the farm, we as members of congress have the power and the control to change her life. when brittany finally took control and made the call, it was vawa funds that made sure that the cops that responded recognized it. and i've done those ride-alongs and they are

con mucho miedo pensando que sus casos ya no van a ser aprobados o si la visa u se va a terminar o vawadisponible en el centro de inmigracion para mujeres y ninos en san francisco se estan dando a la tarea de tranquilizar a la gente. escuchan de amigos o amigas, familiares que los asustan, pero es importante que llamen es muy triste porque deben de informarse primero claudia sandoval/abogada icwc las mujeres que han aplicado las mujeres que ya tienen vawa o beneficios bajo vawa y las que e en general, los benecsmigrato evo nado el primer paso para reautorizar chas leyes, y ahi se podrian incluirlnos mbios. segun esta agencia, aunque la version del ano pasado oblematica y no paso, la de migratorias podrian mejorar ion dificaciones negativas, avanzara enashigton.la ley ya e presidente ha dicho que no va a firmar otra ley que va a afectar vawa negativamente esto anima a personas como reina. ella llego hoy a solicitar una visa u como victima de violencia domestica, pues esta cansada de callar. reina montoya/busca solicitar visa u que busquen este tipo de ayuda tambien para que el mismo gobi

con mucho miedo pensando que sus casos ya no van a ser aprobados o si la visa u se va a terminar o vawa a estar disponible en el centro de inmigracion para mujeres y ninos en san francisco se estan dando a la tarea de tranquilizar a la gente. escuchan de amigos o amigas, familiares que los asustan, pero es importante que llamen es muy triste porque deben de informarse primero claudia sandoval/abogada icwc las mujeres que han aplicado las mujeres que ya tienen vawa o beneficios bajo vawa y las que son elegibles para aplicar que no tienen que preocupar de nada negativamente y es que dijeron que en general, los beneficios migratorios no estan en peligro.. hoy se dio en el nuevo senado el primer paso para reautorizar dichas leyes, y ahi se podrian incluir algunos cambios. segun esta agencia, aunque la version del ano pasado era problematica y no paso, la de este ano luce mejor susan bowyer/dir. de abogados icwc la nueva version es mucho mejor es posible que las provisiones inmigratorias podrian mejorar aunque se hicieran modificaciones negativas, ellos cuentan con que eso no avanzara en was

vawa is a personal and political issue and very intimate.of women and men in this country already. families in this country are ready. to think of it as something that ends up being a partisan issue that doesn't affect the lives of every day people is really, really disturbing and a different kind of violence. you are right. the sticking point is native american women. 70% of native american women victims of violence are attacked by people who aren't from their communities, who aren't from their reservations. it's what kind of women and men do we consider american? what kind of women should have protection under the law and who, you know, the congress is saying that republicans are saying that this is unconstitution unconstitutional. the treaties have been established fortunately or unfortunately -- >> this is a personal story, a personal issue. women are being used, once again as a pawn in a political fight. tribal courts versus federal courts. the family research institute and all those people. they literally believe that women are lying a

victims and that vawa programs save lives. they also note, as i've said repeatedly on this floor, quote, "vawa must reach all victims and perpetrators of domestic violence and dating violence and sexual assault and stalking in every community in the country." i ask that a copy of the republic members' letter to speaker boehner be included in the record at this point. the senate has rejected the republican substitute and defeated the coburn amendment to strip the tribal jurisdiction provisions included in the senate bill for the past two years. those amendments would have greatly narrowed vawa's ability to prevent crime and help victims and would have undercut our commitment to all victims of rape and domestic violence. so i hope the senators will continue to vote against amendments that weaken this important legislation. mr. president, it is difficult to understand why people would come in here and try to limit which victims could be helped by this legislation. you know, if you're a victim of domestic or sexual violence, you'r

vawa is federal law. then there are issues that are of concern going to litigate or going go a case in the tribal that may not have to follow certain or federal laws. other side is the fiscal issue. it is a very expressive piece of legislation. at least also year i believe the budget was almost $500,000 -- excuse me $500 million, excuse me. i guess estimated to go as high as over 600 million. it's an important pe of legislation, no doubt. but also remember we do have laws on the books at the state level that also address issues of crime against individuals, women as well as men because we know violence is not only a man on woman crime it is also a women on man crime now. >> violence against women secretary gender neutral. it can protect male victims as well as female. relates to native american women. if you are native american woman you are battered by an abuser who is not a member -- not native american, does not live in your tribal territory that person frankly can get 'i with that crime. va with wa as

so i hope that those few senators who opposed vawa last year will now join with us to enact vawa reauthorization. i think we should act quickly and decisively to pass this bill. it does have, as i said, the cornyn and grassley amendment. let's act quickly, decisively, pass the bill, send it to the house, and i know if it reaches the president's desk, from what he has told me, he will sign it without delay. our bill will support the use of techniques proven to help identify high-risk cases and prevent domestic violence homicides. it's going to increase vawa's focus on sexual assault. it will push colleges to strengthen their efforts to protect students from domestic and sexual violence. it will allow us to make real progress in addressing the horrifying epidemic and domestic violence in travel communities. a recent study found almost three in five women had been assaulted by their spouses or intimate partners. our bill will allow services to get to those in the lgbt community. they have had trouble accessing services in the past. and the centers for disease control and prevention released a study

vawa has long been bipartisan, with broad support.rats, republicans, law enforcement officers, prosecutors, judges, health professionals all have supported this legislation. why? because it worked. since vawa's passage in 1994, domestic violence has decreased by over 50%, and the victims of these crimes have been more willing to come forward, knowing that they are not alone, knowing that they will get the support they need, knowing that crimes against women will not be tolerated. mr. president, unfortunately, not all women have received the full benefits of the violence against women act. that's why the tribal provisions now are so important. native american women are two and a half times more likely than other u.s. women to be victims of rape. one in three will be sexually assaulted in their lifetimes. and it is estimated that three out of every five native women will experience domestic violence. those numbers are tragic. those numbers tell a story of great human suffering, of women in desperate situations, desperate for support and

, avanzara enashigton.la ley ya e presidente ha dicho que no va a firmar otra ley que va a afectar vawa negativamente esto anima a personas como reina. ella llego hoy a solicitar una visa u como victima de violencia domestica, pues esta cansada de callar. reina montoya/busca solicitar visa u que busquen este tipo de ayuda tambien para que el mismo gobierno de aqui de los estados unidos vea en realidad la gran necesidad que hay en este pais para que nos pueda apoyar a todos los que sufrimos de violencia de crimen centro de inmigracion para mujeres y ninos 8611449 si usted quiere mas informacion sobre lo que esta pasando con estas leyes, puede comunicarse al centro de inmigracion para mujeres y ninos al...415-861-1449

other senators offered trafficking-related are amendmes to the vawa bill.the opportunity to pass the trafficking victim protection reauthorization act and take a giant stride forward to help trafficking victims. i offer to help human trafficking at its roots by supporting both domestic and international efforts to fight against trafficking but also to punish those who fer ta perpetrt and we provide necessary resources to help supportvictims as they try to rebuild their lives. the amendment includes new measures to ensure better partnership and coordination among federal agencies between law enforcement and victim service providers and with foreign countries to better address every part of this complicated problem. no one country can face it alone. we've got to work together on this. but it also will strengthen federal anticriminal substitute. measures to encourage victims cooperate with law enforcement is sometimes a difficult thing. a victim is sometimes afraid to cooperate with law enforcement. but when they do cooperate, it leads to more prosecutions and

vawa is also improving law enforcement's response to domestic violence. in 2007, the pennsylvania commission on crime and delinquency conducted an evaluation of vawa services training for officers and prosecutors' program, stop grants. this program is designed to promote and enhance approach to improve the criminal justice system's handling of violent crimes against women. the final report indicated that police with stop training will work with victims' advocates. court personnel, including prosecutors and judges, are demonstrating a heightened level of sensitivity toward victims' abuse. employing personnel from beginning to end has resulted beginning to end has resulted in an improved arrest policies,

that is what the senate's vawa re-authorization will accomplish for all women. i don't mean for some women. i mean for all women. i urge us to vote no on the amendment and yes on the underlying bill. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady's time has expired. the gentlewoman from california reserves. the gentlewoman from washington is recognized. mrs. mcmorris rodgers: thank you, madam speaker. i'm pleased to yield to the champion on our side of the aisle for the re-authorization of this important legislation, our majority leader, eric cantor, for one minute. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from virginia is recognized for one minute. mr. cantor: madam speaker, i thank the gentlelady. and congratulate her on her leadership on this issue. as chairwoman of our conference, as a strong advocate for families for women, for children in our conversation -- conference salute her and her efforts to improve the ability for individuals, women who are subject to domestic abuse to get the relief that they need. and in that spirit today, madam speaker, i come to the flo

vawa saves money and saves lives.s have been passed to combat domestic violence and violence has decreased by 60%. despite the successes, there is much work to be done and all victims of domestic violence and those in the lgbt community and they must feel safe seeking help from our criminal justice system. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition? >> address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. >> thank you, mr. speaker. when the americans who volunteer to fight our wars come home, they shouldn't have to fight for jobs. unemployment is one of the biggest problems couldn'tly facing america's veterans. our veterans need jobs. but more than 250,000 servicemen and women expected to return to civilian life each year over the next five years, veterans' employment issues will only grow more challenging. that's why for more than a year the veterans' jobs caucus has worked to end the veterans' un

we have to fight the sequester that tomorrow would cut $20 million out of vawa, but as a former rapei'm proud for the women speaking out. i was a prosecutor in the 90s. i couldn't imagine a woman standing on the floor and talking about rape. she said come out of the shadows. you are not to blame. the victims are survivors. they are praised not blamed. it's a beautiful day in this country. >> michael: it had to be a spectacularly satisfying moment for gwen moore. how are we misinterpreting what the republicans are doing the republicans who voted against it. >> there is a deep misogyny a deep fear of women and women of color and we have to be clear about that and not shy away what it is. this is male privilege and it's white privilege and it has to stop. it should not be legislateed in our country. as activists we have to make sure that everyone is at that seat of power. today some of them stepped forward in the future, and that's a good thing. >> michael: it's cool it watch it happening to see them move from the past, to see progress leave them behind. >> the majority of american peop

distinguished senator from alaska, senator murkowski, has filed amendment 11, a technical fix to ensure that vawa's tribal provisions properly apply in alaska. i now offer the amendment on her behalf. i support this amendment and i ask it be added to the bill. the presiding officer: without objection, the clerk will report the amendment. the clerk: the senator from vermont, mr. leahy, for ms. murkowski, proposes an amendment numbered 11. beginning on page 186, strike line 5 and all that follows. mr. leahy: i ask that further reading be dispensed with. the presiding officer: without objection. there will now be two minutes of debate equally divided. mr. leahy: i yield back all time. the presiding officer: without objection. the question is on the amendment. is there any further debate? hearing none, all those in favor say aye. all those opposed say no. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the amendment is agreed to. under the previous order, there will be two minutes of debate equally divided prior to a vote in relation to amendment number 15, offered by the senator from oklahoma, mr. co

real vawa focuses on key programs to address sexual assault, including the backlog and testing rape kits. it also consolidates programs to ensure that resources are reaching victim services and local law enforcement. and it ensures protection for all victims of abuse. in nevada nearly half of all women have been the victim of some kind of sexual aassault -- assault and more than a quarter a victim of rape. the rape crisis center in las vegas, an excellent organization that i have worked with closely over the years, assists victims in the transition to become survivors. this congress should support the center's efforts not hinder them. violence against women is not a game. it is time for house republicans to stop playing games and to re-authorize this vital legislation now. thank you, mr. speaker. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady yields back. the gentlelady from new york reserves the balance of her time. the gentleman from florida continues to reserve. the gentlelady from new york. ms. slaughter: mr. speaker, i'm pleased to yield a minute and a half to the gentleman f

the idaho coalition against sexual and com domestic violence uses vawa funds to promote the awareness of healthy relationships in middle and high schools in idaho. it is heartening to hear that the number of idaho high school students reporting that they have experienced dating violence has dropped from -- by 5% from 2007 to 2011. however, i'm sad to report that since just january 1 of this year, four deaths have occurred in my state from the result of domestic violence. and even one is too many. these tragic events serve as a reminder that we'll we are improving, we are far from ending this abuse. i believe that while we're improving, we can and will do better. i stand behind this act as it provides critical services to victims of violent crime as well as agencies and organizations which provide important aid to those who are often victims in their own homes. this legislation provides access to legal and social services for survivors, it provides training for law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, attorneys, and