House Democrats recklessly blocked this reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act because they were seeking to add controversial provisions that should never be part of a consensus bill.
Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C. Today on the floor U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) discussed the Violence Against Women Act and Democrats continued refusal to join with Republicans to pass a long-term extension. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyns floor remarks are below and video can be found here.
Folks on both sides of the aisle agree that we need to reauthorize and strengthen the Violence Against Women Act also known as VAWA. It is something I strongly support."
Thats why I was so shocked shocked earlier this year when House Democrats blocked a Republican effort to reauthorize this critical law before it lapsed last February."
Now why would they do that?"
This is where politics rears its ugly head. We were seeking a short-term reauthorization of the existing Violence Against Women Act so bipartisan negotiations could continue on a long-term update and extension of the law. But House Democrats recklessly blocked this reauthorization of VAWA because they were seeking to add controversial provisions that should never be part of a consensus bill."
Im proud to say that the Appropriations Committee did the right thing and continued to fully fund all Violence Against Women Act programs."
VAWA should never be used as a political plaything or pawn. Im somewhat encouraged by ongoing bipartisan negotiations here in the Senate and I commend Senator Ernst for her commitment to this effort and look forward to supporting a long-term extension of VAWA that is done in the right way: through negotiation and agreement not political gamesmanship."
Senator John Cornyn a Republican from Texas is a member of the Senate Finance Intelligence and Judiciary Committees.
