Joe Manchin: “I rise today with the surest conviction that this body--united as a group of Democrats and Republicans--can and will…”

“I rise today with the surest conviction that this body--united as a group of Democrats and Republicans--can and will vote to ensure the women and children of this country are free from domestic abuse. I believe that opposing the bill before us would defy every ounce of common sense I have in my body. I am a proud sponsor of the Violence Against Women Act, as are most of my colleagues in this body, because it is unfathomable that any individual could oppose efforts to ensure women and children are free from violence. The bill we are currently considering would reauthorize several essential grant programs that have made a tremendous difference in my State of West Virginia and across this Nation. Here is what I have heard from the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence Team Coordinators Sue Julian and Tonia Thomas: The Violence Against Women Act is the most critical piece of federal legislation affecting the safety of survivors of domestic violence and their children in every county of West Virginia. [The law] supports cost-effective responses to the pervasive and insidious crimes of domestic violence. VAWA funds innovative, successful programs that are at the core of our nation's response to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking. Action taken at the congressional level to end violence against women, children, and men echoes through the hills and hollows of the most remote communities in this state.…”