House votes to reauthorize Violence Against Women Act, closing 'boyfriend loophole'
The House passed legislation on Thursday reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) over objections from the National Rifle Association and Republicans who say it will restrict gun rights by preventing people convicted of stalking or abusing dating partners from buying a gun.
Thirty-three Republicans opted to break party lines and vote for the bill backed by Reps. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), the only GOP lawmaker to co-sponsor it.
Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) was the sole Democrat to vote against the measure, which passed 263-158.
“I was disappointed that the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Reauthorization was made partisan with the inclusion of language that would strip individuals’ right to due process with respect to their 2nd Amendment rights," Peterson said in a statement to The Hill.
Congress had allowed VAWA, which provides funding and grants for a variety of programs that tackle domestic abuse, to lapse in February when it was omitted from a massive spending bill ending a partial government shutdown.
Bass argued it’s past time for Congress to modernize the law, which was first passed in 1994.
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/437348-house-votes-to-reauthorize-violence-against-women-act-close-the-boyfriend?userid=229233
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