Providing for Consideration of H.R. 4970, Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2012, and Providing for Consideration of H.R. 4310, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013

Floor Speech

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Mr. DOGGETT. For so many, this Violence Against Women Act vote is literally a matter of life and death.

One immigrant was abused by her husband, who was a special agent for the Homeland Security Department. He threatened her that she would be deported and separated from her daughter. She sought help anyway at the excellent San Antonio Family Violence Prevention Services, through which she was provided a special visa allowing her to remain here safely.

Another woman in Austin found death. So fearful of being deported, she was eventually killed in broad daylight in front of her two little children.

We have a 2-year backlog for this visa. It is a visa that could help many. It is a visa that was approved almost unanimously in a previous Congress.

Instead of focusing on a victim's visa status, we should be focused on the fight against domestic violence.

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Mr. DOGGETT. Instead of focusing on discriminating against some in our community, we should be focused on ensuring that all victims of violence everywhere receive the care and services they need. Let's move forward in that struggle, not take another giant Republican step backward.

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