Bill Pascrell: “This bill takes steps backwards from offering full protections for women and children who suffer unspeakable abuse. I'm…”

“This bill takes steps backwards from offering full protections for women and children who suffer unspeakable abuse. I'm not questioning the intentions, Madam Speaker, of those on the other side; that's not my purpose here. But who are we excluding today? You're either a unifier on the floor or you are a divider. Instead of passing the bipartisan Senate bill that provides protections for women who are victims of abuse, the majority has decided instead to turn women's safety and security into a political fight. It shouldn't be. According to the 2010 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, an average of 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner. The Violence Against Women Act makes great strides. It shouldn't matter if a woman is an immigrant or a member of the LGBT community. I'm against this rule. I'm against the bill. I hope we can come together on a final resolution of this.”