Debbie Lesko: “I thank Representative Cole for yielding me the time. Madam Speaker, if the previous question is defeated, we will amend…”

“I thank Representative Cole for yielding me the time. Madam Speaker, if the previous question is defeated, we will amend the rule to bring an extension of the Violence Against Women Act, which I have titled the Protecting Women Act of 2019. Without action, the Violence Against Women Act will expire tomorrow at midnight. Madam Speaker, I am a survivor of domestic violence, and as a survivor of domestic violence, I am calling on all of my colleagues to reauthorize this critical bill that helps women and children who have experienced the trauma and pain of abuse and who need our support. While we may not agree on every provision of the current Violence Against Women Act, I think we can all agree on the overall importance of this law and the programs and services it provides. Since the Violence Against Women Act was first signed into law in 1994, it has played a vital role in supporting American women who have experienced domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking, and trafficking, and improving our response to these crimes while we work to prevent them altogether. Progress has been made, but there is more work to do. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in three women and one in six men experience some form of contact sexual violence during their lifetime. I am confident that every Member of this body believes those statistics are unacceptable.…”