[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 59 (Thursday, April 4, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H3073-H3075]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2019

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Harder of California). Pursuant to House 
Resolution 281 and rule XVIII, the Chair declares the House in the 
Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for the further 
consideration of the bill, H.R. 1585.
  Will the gentlewoman from New Jersey (Mrs. Watson Coleman) kindly 
take the chair.

                              {time}  0919


                     In the Committee of the Whole

  Accordingly, the House resolved itself into the Committee of the 
Whole House on the state of the Union for the further consideration of 
the bill (H.R. 1585) to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act of 
1994, and for other purposes, with Mrs. Watson Coleman (Acting Chair) 
in the chair.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The Acting CHAIR. When the Committee of the Whole rose on Wednesday, 
April 3, 2019, amendment No. 38 printed in part B of House Report 116-
32 offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rose) had been disposed 
of.


                 Amendment No. 39 Offered by Mrs. Axne

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 39 
printed in part B of House Report 116-32.
  Mrs. AXNE. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 29, strike lines 3 through 7 and insert the following:

     SEC. 201. SEXUAL ASSAULT SERVICES PROGRAM.

       Section 41601(f)(1) of the Violent Crime Control and Law 
     Enforcement Act of 1994 (34 U.S.C. 12511(f)(1)) is amended by 
     striking ``$40,000,000 to remain available until expended for 
     each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018'' and inserting 
     ``$60,000,000 to remain available until expended for each of 
     fiscal years 2020 through 2024''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 281, the gentlewoman 
from Iowa (Mrs. Axne) and a Member opposed each will control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Iowa.
  Mrs. AXNE. Madam Chair, the Violence Against Women Act expired on 
September 30, 2018. It is incredibly disappointing that we ever let 
this landmark bill expire in the first place, but we now have an 
opportunity to provide additional resources and address gaps in the 
expired law to better protect women in Iowa and across the land from 
violence. My amendment will help do that.
  I have introduced an amendment that will increase STOP grants to help 
local law enforcement agencies and community organizations better 
combat and prosecute violence against women. This funding will help law 
enforcement agencies develop and strengthen strategies to end domestic 
and sexual violence.
  I have met with local police officers and sheriffs throughout my 
district, and they all tell me they are underresourced and they are 
understaffed. I promised them I would do anything in my power to make 
sure they get what they need to protect our communities.
  STOP grants also provide prosecutors with the proper tools and 
resources they need to get justice for survivors and prosecute those 
who commit violence against women.
  While we must do everything in our power to stop violence against 
women, the sad reality is domestic and sexual violence is prevalent in 
this country. It is prevalent across all socioeconomic backgrounds, and 
it is something that is not exclusive to any one part of this country. 
We have it in our own backyard.
  For many victims of domestic and sexual violence, recovery can be a 
lifelong process. We need to make sure that we are providing 
organizations that provide victim services, like the Iowa Coalition 
Against Sexual Assault, with the resources they need to develop and 
strengthen programs to help as many survivors as possible.
  When I worked at the State of Iowa, I helped the Crime Victims 
Assistance Unit in the AG's office improve their processes, so I know 
that in Iowa--I have seen it firsthand--we don't have enough resources 
to address the needs that we have.
  There are simple steps that we can take that have a major impact on 
the amount of people that we can help, and that is what these grants 
do. They will help our local law enforcement agencies, our local 
prosecutors, and local community organizations stop more crimes, 
prosecute more perpetrators, and provide services to more survivors.
  Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CLINE. Madam Speaker, I claim the time in opposition.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Virginia is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. CLINE. Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment, which 
increases the authorization of STOP grants from $40 million to $60 
million. The amendment does not have an offset from any other account.
  We had a hearing on this important legislation in committee. The 
gentlewoman is correct in stating that domestic violence is a problem 
and we must take action to confront it. It was disappointing that the 
legislation was taken from what was a bipartisan consensus and turned 
into a partisan document that went far beyond the underlying 
legislation which was allowed to expire.
  We had a hearing, and no witness that I recall advocated, during 
committee, for increasing the authorization level for STOP grants.
  STOP grants do perform a vital service. In fact, one of my first jobs 
out of law school was prosecuting under a STOP grant, prosecuting 
domestic violence cases in Rockingham County in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
  In the markup in committee, not a single Democrat offered any 
amendment to increase the authorization level by an additional $20 
million. There has been no reason given to add an additional 50 percent 
to this specific program as opposed to any program. So I would urge my 
colleagues to oppose this amendment.
  Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. AXNE. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Nadler), my colleague.
  Mr. NADLER. Madam Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
  Madam Chair, I support this amendment which would increase the sexual 
assault services program authorization from $40 million to $60 million.
  This program assists States, Tribes, and territories to provide 
intervention, advocacy support, and related assistance to victims of 
sexual assault.
  Experts in the field have indicated that this program is underfunded 
for the depth and the breadth of the work it covers, despite the 
remarks of the gentleman from Virginia.
  It is underfunded. We need more money here. I support the amendment 
of the gentlewoman.
  Now, the gentleman from Virginia says there is no offset. That is 
true. We do not need an offset.
  Of course, we could take it away from President Trump's personal part 
of the tax, of the $1.8 trillion tax break that the Republicans voted 
for for the rich.
  But the fact is we don't need an offset. Under the rules, the 
appropriations bill has to deal with that. This simply makes funds 
available, and for a very worthy purpose.
  Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.
  Mr. CLINE. Madam Chair, I would state to the esteemed chairman of the 
committee that we have proceeded without offsets for many, many years

[[Page H3074]]

on many, many things, and that is one of the reasons why we are over 
$20 trillion in debt right now.
  This House must exercise fiscal restraint and bring its budget back 
into some semblance of order and exercise responsibility. And so an 
offset is responsible, is appropriate, does not exist, and was never 
discussed.
  The chairman talks about experts. We heard from no expert at the 
committee level as to the need for the additional $20 million in STOP 
grants.
  Madam Chair, I ask my colleagues to oppose the amendment, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. AXNE. Madam Chair, I appreciate what my colleague across the 
aisle is saying; however, our debt can be looked at in many ways to 
amend. However, our local police officers, our local communities, and 
our organizations that support victims with assistance are in dire need 
of the additional funding.
  I would argue that this administration is the cause of this major 
debt that we have, and we should not take that out on our local 
communities that I know are supported across the aisle.
  Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CLINE. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentlewoman from Iowa (Mrs. Axne).
  The amendment was agreed to.

                              {time}  0930


       Amendment No. 40 Offered by Ms. Torres Small of New Mexico

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 40 
printed in part B of House Report 116-32.
  Ms. TORRES SMALL of New Mexico. Madam Chairwoman, I have an amendment 
at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 171, insert after line 2 the following (and conform 
     the table of contents accordingly):

     SEC. 1408. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION REGARDING COMPLIANCE WITH 
                   IMMIGRATION LAWS.

       Nothing in this Act, or in any amendments made by this Act, 
     shall affect the obligation to fully comply with the 
     immigration laws.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 281, the gentlewoman 
from New Mexico (Ms. Torres Small) and a Member opposed each will 
control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New Mexico.
  Ms. TORRES SMALL of New Mexico. Madam Chairwoman, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  Madam Chairwoman, I rise to offer amendment No. 40 to H.R. 1585, the 
Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act.
  My amendment is simple. It will ensure that everything in this bill 
complies with current immigration law. One in three women in the United 
States will experience domestic violence. That is unacceptable. It 
doesn't matter who you are. Domestic violence is unacceptable. This law 
protects all survivors.
  It ensures that our Nation recognizes domestic violence and sexual 
assault as crimes. It provides crucial protections against domestic 
violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. It provides 
survivors with the support they deserve.
  It provides our law enforcement with everything they need to provide 
justice to these survivors, and it sends a clear message nationwide 
that our Federal Government will protect all survivors and condemn all 
domestic and sexual assault offenders.
  That is why the reauthorization of VAWA should not be impacted by the 
current debate on our immigration system. That debate is for another 
day and it is a debate we should have soon in this Chamber. But I felt 
it was necessary to offer this amendment to acknowledge that as the 
House passes this legislation, it is also in accordance with the laws 
already enacted.
  Again, this is all this amendment attempts to do. It is important 
that funding goes where it is intended. And the eligibility for VAWA 
grant funding is clear in this bill. VAWA is the cornerstone for safety 
and justice to survivors of violence and abuse. Our sole focus today 
should be to keep that cornerstone strong.
  All of us know a survivor. She may be our mother, he may be our best 
friend. It may be ourselves. We, as a country, know what to do and we 
should do it together. Therefore, I encourage my colleagues on both 
sides of the aisle to support this essential legislation.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CLINE. Madam Speaker, I claim the time in opposition, although I 
am not opposed to the amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman from Virginia is 
recognized for 5 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CLINE. Madam Chairwoman, I would answer the gentlewoman by saying 
that we are in agreement that domestic violence is a problem, and 
regardless of who you are in this country, you deserve protection if 
you are a victim of domestic violence. No matter, woman, man, gay, 
straight, you deserve protection if you are a victim of domestic 
violence, and we need to provide adequate protection.
  Unfortunately, this bill does not provide that protection when you 
are allowing environments to be created where victims are at risk of 
being revictimized, whether it is through the legal process, or through 
the shelter process. We have problems with this bill overall. But I 
commend the gentlewoman for her amendment, because it does ensure that 
the laws regarding immigration in this country are complied with.
  I wish that we had gone further. I offered an amendment on another 
bill at committee to ensure that ICE was notified whenever an illegal 
immigrant committed a crime involving a firearm so that they could be 
deported quicker. I wish that that had been attempted in this 
legislation as well. ICE deserves to be notified when someone is 
convicted of a crime of domestic violence if that defendant is illegal.
  So while we could not go further, I thank the gentlewoman for 
offering the amendment. I do not oppose it, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Ms. TORRES SMALL of New Mexico. Madam Chairwoman, I yield 1 minute to 
the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), the Speaker of the House.
  Ms. PELOSI. Madam Chairwoman, I thank the gentlewoman for her 
leadership in presenting the important amendment to the Violence 
Against Women Act. I thank the distinguished chairman of the committee 
for his leadership in bringing this VAWA reauthorization to the floor. 
I commend Karen Bass, the author of the legislation, the chair of the 
subcommittee of jurisdiction, and I want to recognize and acknowledge 
the work of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee over the years in terms of 
ending violence against women.
  Again, we take an oath to protect the American people. Nearly 25 
years ago, Congress honored that oath when we enacted the bipartisan 
Violence Against Women Act. It united our communities and our country 
in a fight against domestic violence in America.
  Today, we honor that oath once more by passing strong, bipartisan, 
long-term VAWA reauthorization that will save lives.
  Again, I want to salute Karen Bass, a champion for women's safety and 
security as chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, 
Homeland Security, and Investigations, and the many champions of VAWA 
in the Congress who have made today possible. Again, I acknowledge 
Congresswoman Jackson Lee.
  We thank all of the survivors, victims, and advocates who have shown 
the generosity of spirit to tell their stories. Nothing is more 
eloquent or effective than the stories which show that this is not a 
legislative fight or an issues fight. It is a personal fight about 
America's families.
  I commend Congresswoman Torres Small for this important amendment 
that recognizes and ensures that all provisions of the bill comply with 
current immigration law. This isn't a bill about immigration, but I 
wanted to make that assertion, and I thank the gentlewoman, 
Congresswoman Torres Small for this amendment.
  We are pleased that the bill is bipartisan. There should be nothing 
partisan or political about ending the scourge of domestic violence and 
sexual assault, which one in three women faces today.
  Madam Chairwoman, with this bill, we are reinforcing what we did 25 
years ago, and what we did in 2013. We are making it stronger with the 
legislation

[[Page H3075]]

today, with lifesaving updates that reflect the voices of victims and 
survivors and the input of experts.
  With this bill, we are empowering law enforcement and making new 
investments in prevention. We are improving lifesaving services to 
victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and 
stalking. We are supporting survivors with protections against 
discrimination in the workplace and supporting their financial 
security.
  We are closing dangerous loopholes in our laws that right now allow 
those who have been convicted of stalking or dating violence to obtain 
firearms. These are commonsense reforms that will save lives and that 
no one should object to.
  We are strengthening protections for Native American women because 
every woman everywhere has the right to live free from abuse. We thank 
the Indian Country and the Native American women for their input on 
this. And aren't we blessed now to have for the first time in American 
history, two Native American women serving in the Congress of the 
United States: Congresswoman Sharice Davids from Kansas, and 
Congresswoman Deb Haaland from New Mexico, and they have already made 
their presence felt.
  This bill has historically been bipartisan. We urge all Members to 
join us in a strong bipartisan vote for this bill, which honors our 
oath, upholds our values, and saves lives. Again, I urge a ``yes'' 
vote.
  Ms. TORRES SMALL of New Mexico. Madam Chairwoman, I yield 1 minute to 
the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler).
  Mr. NADLER. Madam Chairwoman, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
  I rise in support of the gentlewoman's amendment. Representative 
Torres Small's amendment makes it clear that nothing in this bill 
impacts or changes any obligations or requirements to comply with our 
immigration laws.
  This amendment alleviates any potential concern or confusion about 
the intent of this legislation. It makes clear that the bill does not 
change any immigration law, nor does it affect any of the immigration 
obligations and requirements under current law. It is that simple, and 
I urge all of my colleagues to support it.
  Ms. TORRES SMALL of New Mexico. Madam Chair, I thank the chairman; 
the authors of this bill, Representative Bass and Representative 
Fitzpatrick; and the tireless advocates who have worked to bring this 
bill to the floor today for the safety and justice of all survivors of 
violence and abuse.
  Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, please 
support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Torres Small).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes 
appeared to have it.
  Mr. NADLER. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from New Mexico 
will be postponed.
  Mr. NADLER. Madam Chair, I move that the committee do now rise.
  The motion was agreed to.
  Accordingly, the Committee rose; and the Speaker pro tempore (Ms. 
Torres Small of New Mexico) having assumed the chair, Mrs. Watson 
Coleman, Acting Chair of the Committee of the Whole House on the state 
of the Union, reported that that Committee, having had under 
consideration the bill (H.R. 1585) to reauthorize the Violence Against 
Women Act of 1994, and for other purposes, had come to no resolution 
thereon.

                          ____________________