On the recordApril 26, 2012
I wish to thank Senator Klobuchar for her leadership and Senator Feinstein as well. These are the two Democratic women on the Judiciary Committee who have been such leaders on this issue, as well as Senator Murray. I am proud to stand here today to call for the passage of the Violence Against Women Act. This is not a new bill, as has been painstakingly described to all of my colleagues. I can remember so well when then-Senator Joe Biden wrote the Violence Against Women Act, and he came to me when I was in the House and asked me to carry it in the House. I was as honored as I am right now. Yes, it took us a while to pass it, but ever since it has been noncontroversial. For some reason our Republican friends, although we have 61 people as cosponsors, are slowing it down, and it seems to me very clear if they didn't have objections we could pass this by voice vote. Three women are killed by their abusive partners every single day. I will repeat that: Three women today will be killed by their abusive husbands. For every woman who is killed, there are nine more who are beaten or injured every single day. In the name of those people--in the name of the three women who will be killed today--we should pass this unanimously. Has the Violence Against Women Act worked? Yes. Incidents of domestic violence have decreased by 53 percent since we passed this law.…





