Violence Against Women Act sails through Senate

CBS

(CBS News) In a rare election-year moment of bipartisanship, the Senate passed the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) on Thursday afternoon, legislation that gives women protections and recourse against violence and abuse.

The bill passed with bipartisan support by a vote of 68 - 31. The vote was to reauthorize the measure, which first passed in 1994 and is credited with a 51 percent increase of victims reporting domestic abuse, for five years.

VAWA provides services for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. It also locks in money for testing roughly 400,000 rape kits that, according to Human Rights Watch, have gone untested.

In addition, the Senate-passed measure provides protections for gay, lesbian and transgender couples, provides visas for undocumented immigrants who have been victims of abuse, and provides new authority for Native Americans officials in cases of abuse of Native American women by non-Native Americans. Republicans sought but failed to weaken these provisions through the amendment process.

Vermont Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy, co-sponsor of the bill, defended the expanded protections.

"A victim is a victim is a victim. They all deserve our attention and the protection and access to services our bill provides," Leahy said.

The Senate action comes before senators head out of Washington for a week-long recess. The House of Representatives must still act for the bill to go to the president's desk. Female Republican House lawmakers held a news conference Wednesday announcing their version of the bill, which excludes protections for some groups.

"Our goal when we looked at this legislation...was to continue on the priorities that the original legislation did in 1994," Rep. Kristi Noem (R-SD) said Wednesday.

The House Republican bill would increase prison sentences and penalties for convicted stalkers and perpetrators. The House is expected to take up its version the week of May 14. Two two versions of the bill would need to be reconciled before a final bill can be sent to the president.

Additional reporting by John Nolen

[AttyFAM]

For those who do not bother to read the prior posts before opening their mouths and showing their ignorance:

1. A U-Type Visa may be granted to a woman who is undocumented IF a federal, state or local police entity certifies that she is co-operating in the prosecution of criminals accused of crimes against women (from rape to trafficking). A U-Type Visa is good only for 4 years. The program has been in place since 2007, by the way, and was put in place so that women do not have to accept the threats of their abusers that they will be deported if they report the rape or other abuse.

2. The first thing to understand is that if you live in Indian Country (i.e., what is sometimes called an Indian Reservation) or if you commit a crime in Indian Country, you are doing so in a sovereign nation, just as if it were Canada or Russia. The special sovereignty of Indian Nations is a shared sovereignty with the U. S. Government. Gradually, the U. S. Government has been transferring to Indian Nations more judicial power over their own people and territory. This is another such transfer.

Note this. If you slip and fall at the Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut, you can sue for damages, but the only court having jurisdiction is the Tribal Court. That has been a long-standing fact.

I suggest a temporary visa in order to put a criminal away is a good thing. I further suggest that most Americans have no clue about the sovereignty of Indian Nations. Time to read the law and history, folks.

[marychgo]

Good for the Senate! I only wish there were any hope that the same could be expected from the House....

[AttyFAM]

NOTE: All 31 Senators in opposition were Republicans! They included possible Vice-Presidential candidate Rubio!

[cbsnews_viewer]

Ex VP candidate Democrat John Edwards really did a great job for woman, didn't he? He got a 100 year old campaign donor to give money and break finance campaign laws so his mistress could live in luxury. So many Democrats and politicians are full of platitudes and they sucker people. Its about wealth.

[AttyFAM]

Good job, CBS-Viewer, don't say anything about the issue at hand and create an irrelevant distraction. You must work for the National GOP Committee. Do you have anything to say about the failure of Republicans to vote for the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, S. 1925?

[dreamymiss100]

provides visas for undocumented immigrants who have been victims of abuse, and provides new authority for Native Americans officials in cases of abuse of Native American women by non-Native Americans.
---------------------------------

okay then. Why are we giving a visa to a illegal alien who is a victim of abuse? I guess I don't understand that one...

the second one, I hope you know, they have made it so that if a non native american is accused of abuse of a native american, that non-native will be tried under a native american justice system...not as a US citizen.

[AttyFAM]

1. A U-Type Visa may be granted to a woman who is undocumented IF a federal, state or local police entity certifies that she is co-operating in the prosecution of criminals accused of crimes against women (from rape to trafficking). A U-Type Visa is good only for 4 years. The program has been in place since 2007, by the way, and was put in place so that women do not have to accept the threats of their abusers that they will be deported if they report the rape or other abuse.

2. The first thing to understand is that if you live in Indian Country (i.e., what is sometimes called an Indian Reservation) or if you commit a crime in Indian Country, you are doing so in a sovereign nation, just as if it were Canada or Russia. The special sovereignty of Indian Nations is a shared sovereignty with the U. S. Government. Gradually, the U. S. Government has been transferring to Indian Nations more judicial power over their own people and territory. This is another such transfer.

Note this. If you slip and fall at the Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut, you can sue for damages, but the only court having jurisdiction is the Tribal Court. That has been a long-standing fact.

[joeu0230]

"Sails through Senate?" Compared to past years not at all. This sexist, anti-male, anti-family law is on its way out.

[SiaraDelyn]

Ah.... they've done something good today. :)

[Obama4more]

Wow...they work so well together during an election year. Maybe EVERY YEAR should be election year????

[Lindag10]

Good law, but I understand the House is coming up with one of their own that excludes gay, lesbian, TG's and Native Americans. Apparently these people don't fit into their concept of who is entitled to protection from abuse, rape and stalking.

[WHAT-IS-HE-SMOKING]

What's with you republicans that don't understand that this BILL is not just about women, it already has the following items linked with it:
STOP Grants (State Formula Grants); Transitional Housing Grants; Grants to Encourage Arrest and Enforce Protection Orders; Court Training and Improvement Grants; Research on Violence Against Indian Women; National Tribal Sex Offender Registry; Stalker Reduction Database; Federal Victim Assistants; Sexual Assault Services Program; Services for Rural Victims; Civil Legal Assistance for Victims; Elder Abuse Grant Program; Protections and Services for Disabled Victims; Combating Abuse in Public Housing; National Resource Center on Workplace Responses; Violence on College Campuses Grants; Safe Havens Project; Engaging Men and Youth in Prevention."