Sam Farr: “Tomorrow, we have two choices. We will be able to vote on this floor on a Senate version of the Violence Against Women…”

“Tomorrow, we have two choices. We will be able to vote on this floor on a Senate version of the Violence Against Women Act. We will also have a House version that will try to be amended to that bill. There are several reasons why the House version is not a good bill and ought to be opposed. In my district, the immigrant provisions left out of the House bill will have a profound impact on my constituents. Immigrant women are at risk of domestic violence more than any other women, and they are less likely to report their attackers due to fear of deportation. The Senate version offers protections that the House bill does not. I have several college campuses in my district. The Senate bill would help combat violent crimes on college campuses; the House bill does not. The Senate version of the Violence Against Women Act also includes the reauthorization of the Trafficking Victims' Protection Act; the House bill does not. Mr. Speaker, sadly, domestic violence affects the entire country. That is why it is absolutely a shame that the Republican leadership has brought up a House bill that will jeopardize the safety of millions of women by making it even harder to receive the services and programs that are available. ____________________”