House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi talks Wednesday in the Capitol. She has been a strong supporter of the Violence Against Women Act.
WASHINGTON—The Violence Against Women Act passed an important procedural hurdle in the House Wednesday, but its future remains uncertain.
The House now faces votes on not one bill, but two—the version of the bill passed by the Senate two weeks ago and an alternative drafted by House Republicans that eliminates certain protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, Native Americans and immigrants. The votes are scheduled for Thursday.
Democrats slammed the Republican majority for what leaders called unnecessary “foot-dragging” and “exclusion” on a measure that received strong bipartisan support in the Senate.
Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., said that when she helped draft the original Violence Against Women Act in 1994, “it didn’t enter our minds to discriminate against anyone.”
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said that Democrats have enough support from certain Republicans to reject the GOP’s preferred measure and push through the Senate bill. House aides to the Republican leadership have said that the Senate’s measure is expected to pass.
Republican leaders answered the growing criticism Tuesday in a Rules Committee meeting. They offered a deal: if the Republican legislation fails to pass, the majority will immediately put the Senate-approved version to a vote for final passage.
A spokesman said the GOP House leaders made the deal for fairness and efficiency—supporters of both bills will have the opportunity to debate and call a final vote. If Democrats can get enough Republican support, the decision opens up a straight path for the Violence Against Women Act to become law, and some conservative lawmakers were uneasy about the decision.
Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Idaho, said, “It’s a huge concern.” He said conservative Republicans worried that leadership was allowing too much legislation to pass directly out of the Democrat-controlled Senate without offering a compromise.
