Congressman Kurt Schrader today called upon the House Republican leadership to quickly bring up and pass the bipartisan Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Reauthorization passed by the U.S. Senate today.

“I commend the bipartisan Senate passage of VAWA and call on House leadership to do the same immediately,” said Rep. Schrader.“While my conservative colleagues continue to delay, thousands of our mothers, sisters and daughters across Oregon, who desperately rely on these effective safeguards, are being denied protections that they need and deserve. I want to see this bill brought to the House floor, voted on and passed right away.”

This bipartisan Senate-passed bill significantly strengthens the ability of the Federal Government, the States, law enforcement and service providers to combat domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. It also includes provisions to ensure that all victims of domestic violence receive the protection they need.

On January 22, Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI), Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) and other House Democrats introduced H.R. 11, a VAWA Reauthorization identical to S. 47, the Senate bill, and Rep. Schrader is a cosponsor of that bill.  H.R. 11 currently has 194 Democratic cosponsors.