Steil Votes In Favor Of Reauthorizing Violence Against Women Act

RACINE COUNTY, WI -- Wisconsin Congressman Bryan Steil (R-Janesville) was one of the 33 house Republicans to support a reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.

“We must protect women and girls from heinous crimes. The programs funded under VAWA support survivors, coordinate efforts between health officials and law enforcement agencies, and increase education and prevention efforts. Domestic abuse is too serious of an issue for political games,” Steil said Friday.

The bill, which provides government funding for programs that support prosecution efforts in abuse crimes against women, expired in mid-February after funding for the reauthorization was left out of a congressional spending bill that ended the partial government shutdown.

The vote to reauthorize VAWA was 263 to 158 with 33 Republicans joining all Democrats save one. Experts say the bill will have a tougher time passing in the Senate.

At issue is the so-called "boyfriend loophole." Inserted into the reauthorization bill by Demoratic leaders earlier this year, the provision lowers the legal hurdle needed to ban a person from obtaining firearms if they've been convicted of specific crimes.

Under the provision, a person convicted of misdemeanor assault or stalking would be banned. Current law sets the standard at felony convictions.