On the recordFebruary 28, 2013
Today, Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to this hyperpartisan and inhumane House substitute version of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013. This version is inhumane and cynical because it removes certain classes of individuals from the protections of the act as guaranteed by the Senate version. This inhumane House version removes all references to gender identity and sexual orientation, ignoring evidence that domestic and sexual violence also affects LGBT victims at equal or greater levels than the rest of the population. It also limits protections for Native American women and omits some protections for immigrant women. Why would we want to exclude these populations from coverage? Vote ``no'' on the House substitute. Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. I continue to reserve.
