Scott Statement: GOP Bill Will Harm Domestic Violence Victims

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after voting against H.R. 30, the so-called "Preventing Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act."

"I have long stood with survivors of domestic violence, which is why I have been a strong supporter of the Violence Against Women Act. However, this Republican messaging bill would put domestic violence victimsat greater risk.

"The bill restates current law; those who are convicted of or admit to committing crimes of domestic violence are already subject to deportation. Unfortunately, this legislation fails to include exemptions that have kept survivors of domestic violence safe. This will endanger and discourage victims of domestic violence, including legal migrants, from coming forward by allowing those who acted in self-defense or who were wrongly accused to be subject to the same deportation process.

"That is why this legislation is opposed by the Coalition of Labor Union Women (AFL-CIO), the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence, the National Association of Social Workers, the National Council of Jewish Women, the National Women's Law Center, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, YWCA USA and more than 200 local and national organizations that serve and work with victims of domestic violence. If Republicans were serious about addressing domestic violence, they would join Democrats and help us reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act."

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