Paradigm Shift

Please forward to everyone you know who cares about ending domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking!

THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE PASSED A BILL THAT IS DANGEROUS FOR VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE AND PROTECTS ABUSERS:
TELL THE HOUSE THE ADAMS BILL (H.R. 4970) IS NOT THE REAL VAWA!

On Tuesday, the House Judiciary Committee marked up and passed the Adams (R-FL) version of VAWA, H.R. 4970. The National Task Force and our thousands of community activists all across the nation have worked very hard in the last few weeks to defeat this harmful bill that sets back the clock on VAWA, hurts and excludes survivors of violence and in some cases gives more rights to perpetrators than victims. In a near party-line 17-15 vote, one Member, Representative Ted Poe (R-TX), crossed the aisle and stood firmly with the field and on the side of victims. As Co-Chair of the Victims’ Rights Caucus, he joined VAWA’s Democratic champions and voted against the bill. We applaud Mr. Poe and the Democratic Members of the Committee for standing with victims. The National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women, a coalition representing thousands of organizations, service providers, researchers, educators, religious leaders, law enforcement, advocacy groups and victims all across the nation, continues to have grave concerns about this legislation that contains punitive provisions that will harm victims and exclude key communities.

In the committee markup, a substitute amendment offered by Ranking Member John Conyers (D-MI) that closely mirrors the bipartisan Senate-passed bill was not even allowed to be considered or debated. Numerous amendments were offered by our House champions to improve the Adams bill by including vulnerable communities such as Native women, LGBTQ victims, and immigrant victims, and striking mandatory minimum sentencing, but these amendments were consistently defeated by the House Committee Majority. Despite these disappointing results, the National Task Force will now turn our efforts to the full House of Representatives in order to pass an inclusive VAWA that is a real step forward for all victims of violence. That vote could be as early as next week so champions of the “real VAWA” have their work cut out for them.

Several Members of Congress are touting yesterday’s passage as a VICTORY for victims of domestic and sexual violence but it is NOT – the Adams bill, H.R. 4970, harms victims and empowers abusers.  We must tell our legislators that we strongly oppose the Adams bill. Tell your friends, family and loved ones to call too! WE NEED TO FLOOD REPRESENTATIVES’ OFFICES WITH CALLS!

ACTION 1:  CALL HOUSE LEADERSHIP AND TELL THEM THAT YOU THINK THAT H.R. 4970 HARMS VICTIMS AND IS NOT THE REAL VAWA.

Message: “The House Judiciary Committee’s passage of H.R. 4970 on Tuesday is NOT a victory – it HARMS victims of violence and empowers abusers.  We oppose the Adams bill because it is NOT the REAL VAWA, it doesn’t include protections for all victims, and it rolls back protections for victims that have been in VAWA since 1994. It is DANGEROUS for survivors of violence.  We support a bill like the bi-partisan Senate bill that protects Native victims, immigrant victims, LGBT victims and other marginalized communities. We do not think the House Judiciary Committee passed a REAL VAWA. We need the House leadership to support ALL victims”

Contact Information:

Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), (202) 225-0600 (Leadership Office), (202) 225-6205 (Personal Office), (513) 779-5400 (Westchester District Office), (937) 339-1524 (Troy District Office)

Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA), (202) 2254000

Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), (202) 225-2915

ACTION 2:  CALL ALL THOSE WHO VOTED IN FAVOR OF H.R. 4970 AND TELL THEM THEY ARE HARMING VICTIMS AND EMPOWERING ABUSERS WITH THEIR VOTE. Message: “Your vote for H.R. 4970 on Tuesday was WRONG – it HARMS victims of violence.  We oppose the Adams bill because it is NOT the REAL VAWA, it doesn’t include protections for all victims and it rolls back protections for victims of violence. It is DANGEROUS for survivors of violence.   We support a bill like the bi-partisan Senate bill that protects Native victims, immigrant victims, LGBT victims and other marginalized communities.  We do not think the House Judiciary Committee passed a REAL VAWA and we need you to support ALL victims.”

Use the Capital switchboard number (202) 224-3121 to call:

Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX)

Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI)

Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-CA)

Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA)

Rep. Dan Lungren (R-CA)

Rep.  Steve Chabot (R-OH)

Rep.  Darrell Issa (R-CA)

Rep.  Randy Forbes (R-VA)

Rep.  Steve King (R-IA)

Rep.  Trent Frank (R-AZ)

Rep.  Jim Jordan (R-OH)

Rep.  Tim Griffin (R-AR)

Rep.  Thomas Marino (R-PA)

Rep.  Trey Gowdy (R-SC)

Rep.  Mike Ross (R-AR)

Rep.  Sandy Adams (R-FL)

Rep.  Mark Amodei (R-NV)

ACTION 3: CALL THESE WOMEN REPRESENTATIVES WHO HAVE NOT SIGNED ON TO H.R. 4970 AND URGE THEM TO SUPPORT OPEN DEBATE ON THE HOUSE FLOOR:

Message: “Thank you for NOT co-sponsoring the Adams VAWA bill (H.R. 4970).  We think this bill is DANGEROUS for victims of violence and empowers abusers.  Instead, please support open debate on the House floor when the bill is brought up for discussion and a vote sometime in the weeks ahead.”

Contact Information:

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), (202) 225-2331, Staffer: Katie Poedtke, Renee Doyle

Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL), (202) 225-3515, Staffer: Cade Clurman

Rep. Nan Hayworth (R-NY), (202) 225-5441, Staffer: Elyse O’Brien

Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA), (202) 225-3536, Staffer: Jessica Wixson

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), (202) 225-3931, Staffer: Guillermo Vallejo

ACTION 4:  CALL ALL OF THE LEGISLATORS WHO VOTED AGAINST ADAMS’ HARMFUL BILL AND THANK THEM – ESPECIALLY CONGRESSMAN TED POE (R-TX) WHO CROSSED PARTY LINES TO DO IT!

Message: “Thank you for NOT sponsoring the Adams VAWA bill (H.R. 4970) and for standing up for ALL victims. The Adams bill is DANGEROUS for victims of violence. It is NOT the REAL VAWA, it doesn’t include protections for all victims and it rolls back protections for victims that have been in VAWA since 1994. Help us support a bill like the bi-partisan Senate bill that protects Native victims, immigrant victims, LGBT victims and other marginalized communities.   Please support open debate on the House floor when the bill is brought up for discussion and a vote sometime in the weeks ahead.”

Use the Capital switchboard number (202) 224-3121 to call:

Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) – Thank him for crossing party lines to stand up for victims!

Rep. John Conyers (D-MI)

Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA)

Rep. JerryNadler (D-NY)

Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA)

Rep. Mel Watt (D-NC)

Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA)

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX)

Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA)

Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN)

Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA)

Rep. Pedro Pierluisi (D-PR)

Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL)

Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL)

Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA)

Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO)

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