Kelly Votes Against Democrats' Partisan VAWA Reauthorization Bill, Supports Clean Extension of Existing Programs

Washington, D.C. -  The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) was enacted in 1994 to help states and local governments investigate and prosecute perpetrators of domestic violence and to provide much-needed support to victims of these crimes.  Over the years, Congress has voted to reauthorize this program on a bipartisan basis. Unfortunately, House Democrats put forward H.R. 1620, a bill to reauthorize VAWA that includes many controversial provisions that undermine the legislation's original intent, which is to help women rebuild their lives.

Representative Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), who is an original co-sponsor of Representative Elise Stefanik's (R-N.Y.) VAWA extension legislation, voted against the Democrat bill and released this statement:

"Getting abusers off our streets and supporting domestic violence victims should be a high priority, so it's unfortunate that House Democrats chose to play politics with this legislation instead of passing a bill that has bi-partisan support and helps women and their children rebuild their lives. I voted against this legislation but strongly support a clean extension of the Violence Against Women Act without the poison pills included in this bill."

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