Violence Against Women Act Breezes Through House

Enough Republicans cross aisle to pass Senate version of bill
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 28, 2013 12:15 PM CST
Violence Against Women Act Breezes Through House
In this Jan. 23, 2013, file photo, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif., holds a news conference on Capitol Hill to discuss the reintroduction of the Violence Against Women Act.   (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

The House today overwhelmingly approved the Senate's version of the Violence Against Women Act, by a vote of 286-138. Included in that tally were every Democrat and 87 Republicans; all 138 opposing votes were Republicans. The GOP leadership had opposed the Senate version of the bill, but changed their tune after the election when they realized they didn't have the votes to pass the House version, the Hill reports.

House Republicans tried to pass their version anyway, putting forward an amendment that would have subbed it in, but it failed on a 166-257 vote, with 60 Republicans voting against it and only two Democrats voting for it. The Senate also tossed Republicans a bone by removing a key provision from the version of the bill they passed in the last Congress, which would have made it easier for non-citizens who were victims of domestic abuse to obtain visas. (More violence against women stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X