Marcy Kaptur: “I want to thank Congresswoman Edwards for her phenomenal leadership throughout her adult life on this issue, before she…”

“I want to thank Congresswoman Edwards for her phenomenal leadership throughout her adult life on this issue, before she came to Congress and, obviously, now, a tremendous leader here on an issue of vital concern, and I underline the word vital, to America's families, to America's women, to those in tribal communities, to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender communities, to our immigrant families, to our immigrant spouses. Let me just say that I don't recall ever the Violence Against Women Act being controversial. We have always, on a unanimous basis practically, passed it year after year after year. But this year, House Republicans have decided that they want to make an issue where they shouldn't be an issue. How sad. Sort of devolutionist, trying to move America backwards rather than forwards. Every American should be free from fear. They should be free from abuse, and they should have equal protection under the law. The Violence Against Women Act does exactly that. And I have two cases I just wanted to briefly mention, one from my district, where a horrible crime occurred. A woman was literally dismembered by her spouse, and each body part was put in a different trash can in the western part of one of the counties that I represent.…”