Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I know we are about to vote on these judges, but I wish to make a few remarks about the VAWA reauthorization before we do so. There are few tools more important in the fight to end domestic and sexual violence than the Violence Against Women Act. This landmark legislation has fundamentally changed the way society views these horrible crimes, and it has resulted in a more than 60 percent decrease in domestic violence offenses. We have been successful because we have learned from experience and adapted our efforts to better meet the needs of victims. Each reauthorization of VAWA has played a critical role in this process. As we learn more about the needs of victims, VAWA has been carefully modified to meet those needs. The bipartisan bill that Senator Crapo and I introduced last year continues that important process. The Republican substitute amendment does not. The Leahy-Crapo bill is based on months of work with survivors, advocates, and law enforcement officers from all across the country. We listened when they told us what was working and what could be improved. We took their input seriously, and we carefully drafted our legislation to respond to those needs. We made additional modifications and reached carefully crafted compromises through what was an open process.…”