Vote Explanation on H.R. As Amended

Floor Speech

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Mr. HUIZENGA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to give an in-depth explanation for my vote on H.R. 1585, legislation to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, and to speak out against the partisan process in which the Majority crafted this bill.

Prior to the vote on H.R. 1585, I have made clear that I support the reauthorization of The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). I am frustrated by the fact that instead of putting forward a clean reauthorization of this vital legislation, the Democrat Majority allowed the provision to expire at the end of the last Congress for political purposes.

Protecting women from abuse is an issue so important that partisanship shouldn't even be in the same sentence, yet the Majority chose to use this opportunity to push VAWA as a partisan political device instead of a bipartisan opportunity to help women in need. H.R. 1585 will not be passed by the Senate in its current form and I remain committed to seeing that VAWA is reauthorized in a manner that protects women, makes needed reforms, and adheres to the Constitution.

West Michigan is blessed to have countless faith-based organizations that work in the community to provide assistance to women during their time of need, and H.R. 1585 fails to provide protections for these faith-based grant recipients or provide for religious hiring exemptions. These organizations serve a vital part in both protecting women and providing support throughout the recovery process.

Instead of protecting women, this legislation could in fact potentially put more women in harm's way and is an affront to the privacy and safety of women. The legislation permits biological males to be housed in women's prison facilities. Forcing women who have suffered abuse to live and sleep in the same facility as biological males is the opposite of protecting women against violence.

I also have concerns that VAWA grants have been used to fund Planned Parenthood. In fact, according to a 2018 GAO report, Planned Parenthood received approximately $300,000 from VAWA formula grands during 2013- 2015. There is no specific language in 1585 that would prohibit this from happening in the future.

Finally, I have significant constitutional concerns with section 903 of the legislation which weakens the due process of individuals in tribal courts on Indian reservations. Crimes committed on reservations should be addressed without eliminating the Bill of Rights and preventing federal review in cases where tribal capacity to adequately prosecute crimes is a problem.

The reauthorization of VAWA should be done in a manner that puts people, not politics first. Going forward, I hope to be able to vote for a truly bipartisan reauthorization of this important legislation.

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