Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2019

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

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.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

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.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

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.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source