Sheila Jackson Lee: “I think all of us have heard, in some way, paraphrased: While Rome is burning, much fiddling is going on. I am grateful…”

“I think all of us have heard, in some way, paraphrased: While Rome is burning, much fiddling is going on. I am grateful for all of the Members of Congress who helped construct this legislation. I want to remind my friends, as the authorizations proceeded in the 1990s into the 2000s of the Violence Against Women Act, the last authorization was technically supposed to be in 2010, but it took 3 years until 2013. Working with advocates who represent almost 200 groups, Republicans and Democrats, organizations who deal with women impacted by domestic violence and other sexual assault issues and acts, they indicated that they wanted to see this bill expanded to cover Native American women, they wanted to protect immigrant women who are left vulnerable, they wanted to make sure it was gender-neutral in many instances. But, as I recall, in 2010, it was Native American and immigrants, so it took 3 years. And all the bill wanted to do was to simply protect people who are vulnerable. In this bill, that has been 3 years in writing--with every opportunity with the preceding chairman of this committee, preceding Congress, and members on the Judiciary Committee to sit with us to work--I, for one, remember constant meetings with staff and members interested, Democratic members, in how we can work together. This bill is long in waiting for prosecutors and law enforcement. They are waiting on the $291 million for stock grants and resources for women's shelters.…”