[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 59 (Thursday, April 4, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E408-E409]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2019

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. ANN WAGNER

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 3, 2019

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1585) to 
     reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, and for 
     other purposes:

  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Chair, I rise today to speak about the 
reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, or VAWA.
  For the last several decades VAWA has been a positive force in our 
nation for the protection of some of our most vulnerable populations. 
Providing grants to domestic violence organizations, increasing access 
to housing for survivors, supporting law enforcement, addressing the 
scourge of sex trafficking, and reducing the rape kit backlog--these 
are just some of the ways VAWA has helped victims of violence in our 
communities.
  While this should be a bipartisan effort to reauthorize VAWA, the new 
Democratic majority here in the House has decided to insert provisions 
into the legislation that advance a political agenda at the expense of 
sexual assault and domestic violence survivors.
  Because of the importance of reauthorizing VAWA and protecting 
vulnerable women across the nation, I will still be supporting final 
passage of the Democrat-authored bill. The National Intimate Partner 
and Sexual Violence Survey has found that over 43 percent of women 
experience some form of sexual violence in their lifetime. Sexual and 
domestic violence are pervasive problems and reauthorizing VAWA is 
critical to the fight against these crimes.
  However, I wanted to take a minute to highlight some of the 
provisions included in this legislation that I remain firmly opposed 
to, and would vote against if given the opportunity.
  Fourth Amendment due process rights and the protection of our Second 
Amendment rights are inherent rights that should not be infringed upon 
lightly. Ensuring that due process rights are protected prior to 
removal of fundamental constitutional rights should not be up for 
debate.
  The majority, however, has done just that in their version of VAWA 
before us today.

[[Page E409]]

  We agree that victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, 
and other types of violent behavior should have protections under the 
law from their abusers and stalkers. Many states have enacted measures 
to codify limitations on firearm possession following judicial action 
as it relates to domestic violence and stalking, oftentimes called red 
flag provisions. Let me be clear, I support such red flag provisions 
when the accused has the protections of due process and judicial 
action. But this is an effort that is best handled at the state, not 
federal, level.
  Congress must address violence against women and girls. Restricting 
constitutional due process and Second Amendment protections, however, 
is not the right way to legislate.
  While I plan to vote for the underlying bill before us today, I must 
reiterate my strong opposition to these provisions. It is my hope that 
the House majority's partisan provisions--including the firearm 
possession provisions and other sections that may compromise the safety 
of women's prisons and shelters--will eventually be removed during 
conference committee with the Senate and I can cast my vote for a final 
version that protects women and girls and maintains protections for our 
Fourth and Second Amendment rights.

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