The Violence Against Women Act reauthorization is churning ahead in Congress. Here’s the link to the House bill that was introduced last Thursday: https://judiciary.house.gov/sites/democrats.judiciary.house.gov/files/documents/VAWA_2019_xml%20%28003%29–Final%20Text%20%28004%29_0.pdf

The bill resembles more of a utopian wish-list than a sensible approach to domestic violence. For starters, the bill defines “verbal, emotional, economic, or technological abuse” as domestic violence crimes. “Verbal” and “emotional” abuse are not defined, so essentially every American would become a perpetrator or victim of domestic violence, or both!

Yesterday, the House Judiciary Committee held its mark-up session. Plenty of fireworks:

• Ranking Member Doug Collins criticized Democrats for their efforts to “politicize and weaponize” the domestic violence issue, and described the VAWA bill as a “missed opportunity.”
• Jim Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin observed, “We are straying further and further from [VAWA’s] original purpose.”

In the end, the Judiciary Committee voted 22-11 to approve the VAWA bill: https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/433953-house-panel-approves-renewal-of-violence-against-women-act?fbclid=IwAR1nOa9iPwM9-u_29N87ePokS_xJPlh1JbrPFg1Q6fDu62CM6dxzCnEqi9o#.XIpJLF7-FxU.facebook

Politics is not a spectator sport. Call your Representative to share your concerns: 202-224- 3121