WASHINGTON—House Republicans on Tuesday advanced their own version of an election-year bill to protect women from violence.
The House Judiciary Committee voted 17-15 along party lines to renew the 1994 Violence Against Women Act that protects abused women and which expired last year. The Democratic-controlled Senate passed a conflicting version last month.
The law historically has enjoyed bipartisan support. But this year, with the presidency and congressional majorities at stake and female voters a pivotal constituency, it's become the latest vehicle for gender politicking over an issue on which there's been little debate in less-polarized years.
Republicans say they want to tighten provisions in the Senate bill that would protect abused immigrants -- as well as taxpayer money doled out under the law.
Democrats say any effort to change the Senate version is just the latest shot in what they say is the GOP's "war against women."
"House Republicans are continuing their war on women by holding VAWA, Violence Against Women Act, hostage to their rigid right-wing ideology," Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., said.
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