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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E458]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
VOTE EXPLANATION ON H.R. 1585, AS AMENDED
______
HON. BILL HUIZENGA
of michigan
in the house of representatives
Friday, April 12, 2019
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.
____________________