fbpx

Congress passes more expansive Violence Against Women Act

Congress approved the more expansive version of an extension of the Violence Against Women Act that an array of Jewish groups had backed.
[additional-authors]
March 1, 2013

Congress approved the more expansive version of an extension of the Violence Against Women Act that an array of Jewish groups had backed.

The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday approved the Senate version of the bill after it had rejected a Republican rewrite that omitted the Senate's new protections for undocumented immigrants, the LGBT community and Native American women.

In both Houses, the bill was passed with the assistance of some Republicans who defected from the party line, and in the House, it was facilitated by the decision of Speaker Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) to allow the Democratic-led Senate's version to reach the floor after the Republican version was defeated 257-166.

The House passed the Senate version 286-138, with 89 Republicans joining the majority.

Of the chambers' Jewish members, only Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.), the House majority leader, voted against it.

Among the Jewish groups backing the more expansive version were the Jewish Federations of North America, the National Council of Jewish Women, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, Hadassah, B'nai B'rith International, Bend the Arc, the Reform movement and Jewish Women International.

President Obama said he would sign the act, which authorizes $660 million in funding over the next five years.

Did you enjoy this article?
You'll love our roundtable.

Editor's Picks

Latest Articles

In a Pickle– A Turshi Recipe

Tangy, bright and filled with irresistible umami flavor, turshi is the perfect complement to burgers, kebabs and chicken, as well as the perfect foil for eggs and salads.

Who Knows?

When future generations tell your story and mine, which parts will look obvious in hindsight? What opportunities will we have leveraged — and decisions made — that define our legacy?

You Heard It Here First, Folks!

For over half a decade, I had seen how the slow drip of antisemitism, carefully enveloped in the language of social justice and human rights, had steadily poisoned people whom I had previously considered perfectly reasonable.

Trump’s Critics Have a Lot Riding on the Iran Conflict

Their assumptions about the attack on Iran are based on a belief in the resilience of an evil terrorist regime, coupled with a conviction that Trump’s belief in the importance of the U.S.-Israel alliance is inherently wrong.

Me Llamo Miguel

With Purim having just passed, I’ve been thinking about how Jews have been disguising ourselves over the years.

The Hope of Return

This moment calls for moral imagination. For solidarity with the Iranian people demanding dignity. For sustained support of those who seek a freer future.

Stranded by War

We are struggling on two fronts: we worry about friends and family, and we are preoccupied with our own “survival” on a trip extended beyond our control.

Love Letters to Israel

Looking around at the tears, laughter, and joy after two years of hell, the show was able to not just touch but nourish our souls.

Neil Sedaka, Brooklyn-Born Hit-Maker, Dies at 86

Neil Sedaka was born March 13, 1939 in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Mac and Eleanor Sedaka. His father was Sephardic and his mother Ashkenazi; Sedaka was a transliteration of the Hebrew “tzedakah.”

More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.