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Important Acts for Congress to Pass - Renewal Forum
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Important Acts for Congress to Pass

On November 27, 2012, by turbiak

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Importance of passing Trafficking Victims Protection Act and Violence Against Women Act

Two bills encompassing the protection of women and children are in desperate need of reauthorization before the current session of Congress adjourns for the year. The first is the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) which expired in September 2011 and the second is the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) which expired in November 2011. These bills have each been expired for at least a year and the services to the victims are running out. The TVPA funds services for victims and also establishes standards for law enforcement to work off. VAWA has been granted a temporary funding extension but for the long term it must be reauthorized in order to continue services to women who have been victimized. This act seeks to combat domestic and sexual violence against all women. These two acts are closely tied and share equal importance in the U.S. efforts to protect women and children from violence and abuse. The problem lies not in support for the bill but with partisan politics. The Democratic controlled Senate and Republican controlled House have each put forth their own versions of the bill that aligns with their political views. If the differences cannot be reconciled, the bills may fall to a joint House-Senate committee to resolve the differences. This is not a time for partisanship to take over, but instead a time for bi-partisanship to flourish.

Senator Leahy who proposed the Senate version of both bills said in reference to the TVPA, “we cannot further delay action while this injustice continues not only elsewhere in the world, but also here at home.” The differences in the House and Senate versions are based on political stances and ideologies. We cannot let these political ideas take priority over the protection of women and children both within our borders and around the world.

The idea of bipartisanship has been echoed throughout the election season, where voters have pleaded with Congress to work across party lines in order to get things done. These two bills deal with issues that are larger than any political party, view, or stance. They deal with suffering and injustice in our world. There is a time for politics and a time for doing what is right. The men and women of Congress must recognize this as a time for doing what is right. Politicians are elected by their constituents and must listen and act based on what is important to them. If constituents demand their representatives to work across party lines to get things done then that is what Congress must do. And there is no better place to start than by passing both of these crucial pieces of legislation.

 

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