Earl Blumenauer: “The satisfaction I have that we've finally renewed the Violence Against Women Act is tempered by how hard it was to get…”

“The satisfaction I have that we've finally renewed the Violence Against Women Act is tempered by how hard it was to get the acceptance of two critically important provisions. Why should there be any question about respect for Native Americans' sovereignty in their own territory to protect their own female citizens? Arguments to the contrary are bogus and demeaning. It was also critical that protection be extended to people regardless of their sexual orientation. This victory is a small sign of the shifts in the House where Democrats are united in supporting core values and a minority number of Republicans, increasing in number, are willing to buck their leadership and the Tea Party majority. It would be nice if this could carry forward to other critical issues of the day.”