Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013

Floor Speech

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Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, first let me thank Leader Pelosi and Congresswoman Gwen Moore for their tremendous leadership to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act.

Today we have an opportunity to really stand up for tribal women, for the LGBT community, for immigrant women, for women all across the United States and to finally pass the strongly bipartisan Senate version of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act. We should have done this a long time ago. After much grandstanding, feet dragging, and shameful politicking over protecting the right for all women to feel safe in

their homes and workplaces, I hope today that finally we can come together to say that violence against any woman is never an option.

When I was in the California Legislature, I authored the Violence Against Women Act for the State of California, and it was signed into law by a Republican Governor. It was, indeed, a bipartisan effort.

As someone who understands domestic violence on a deeply personal level, I know how traumatic it is, and I know the strong and consistent support system needed to emerge as a survivor. That is what the Senate's VAWA reauthorization will accomplish for all women--and I don't mean for some women; I mean for all women. So I urge Members to vote ``no'' on the amendment and ``yes'' on the underlying bill.

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