Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) called on House Republicans to drop their objections to the Senate version of the Violence Against Women Act and take it up after the upper chamber passes it, which she said will happen by Friday morning.
“I really hope that House Republicans listen now to women and men across the country who say that women, no matter who they are, should be protected from violence,” Murray told TPM in an interview.
Now that the Senate legislation has eliminated a procedural hurdle to House passage, she said, “There is no reason for them not to take this bill up and pass it.”
House Republican leaders support reauthorizing VAWA but have resisted additional provisions that extend coverage to gays, illegal immigrants and Native Americans who suffer from domestic abuse.
“I think they are hearing from a number of their moderate Republican women, particularly after the last election,” Murray said. “I think they are looking bad hiding behind not moving a strong bill.”
