New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen and other Democrats are trying to Increase pressure on the House to pass an extension to the Violence Against Women Act before they head out of town in August.The Senate passed an extension of the Violence Against Women Act with broad bipartisan support. It extends protections to the LGBT community, Native Americans and increases reporting requirements on college campuses. House Republicans say those new provisions are unnecessary.
But Senator Shaheen says they're vital to updating the law to meet contemporary needs facing vulnerable women.
“The fact is that we have bipartisan legislation that passed the Senate. We know that in the House there is not bipartisan support for the House bill, and we’re really calling on the House to pass this legislation.”
Congress is scheduled to leave Washington at the end of next week for a summer break. Senators fear time is running short to pass the bill before lawmakers start campaigning full time ahead of November’s elections.