Rep. Johnson applauds passage of the Violence Against Women Act

House Democrats reject weak House GOP VAWA, passes bipartisan Senate version of VAWA that protects LGBT, Native American, immigrant, campus and sex trafficking victims

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) applauded the passage of the Senate version of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) following the failure of the partisan and discriminatory proposal put forth this week by House Republicans.

With House Democrats pushing for a stronger, more comprehensive reauthorization, the Senate’s version passed the House by a vote of 286-138, extending the law’s crucial protections to LGBT, Native American and immigrant victims, providing for more rape kits as well as a national registry of forensic evidence from sexual assault cases, strengthening criminal anti-trafficking statutes, providing for temporary housing for victims, and addressing domestic violence on American college campuses.

“For nearly two decades, VAWA has helped ensure that no victim of domestic violence has to suffer in silence or in the shadows,” said Johnson. “Its passage was a watershed moment in our history. And in the years since, we have come together in a bipartisan way to reauthorize and expand the reach of this law. I’m thankful that some Republicans have finally chosen to do the right thing. This bill strengthens existing protections and expands protections to LGBT Americans, immigrants, and Native Americans.”

Click HERE for video of Rep. Johnson's floor speech.

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