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Impasse continues on renewal of Violence Against Women Act





Democrats and Republicans remain at an impasse over a bill to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act.

The Democratic-led Senate passed S.1925 in April. It includes tribal jurisdiction provisions that are not included in H.R.4970, which passed the House in May.

Senate Democrats are trying to push their version forward as House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) named eight members of his party to serve on a conference committee. Normally, such committees are used to resolve differences between bills but the Senate hasn't even agreed to call one.

"The House is ready and willing to begin those discussions, and I would urge Senate Democrats to come to the table so this critical legislation can be sent to the president for his signature as soon as possible," Boehner said in a press release.

The Senate's version allows tribes to exercise criminal jurisdiction over non-Indians who commit domestic violence offenses on reservations.

Get the Story:
Boehner Pushes for Conference Panel on Domestic Violence Measure (The New York Times 7/30)
Boehner names GOP conferees on stalled Violence Against Women Act (The Hill 7/30)
Boehner names conferees to committee that doesn't exist (Politico 7/30)
Violence Against Women Act's Future Remains Uncertain (Roll Call 7/31)

Related Stories:
Opinion: Senate version of VAWA helps American Indian women (7/23)
Sarah Deer: Stopping violence against women through tribal law (07/16)
Opinion: Republicans add insult to injury on VAWA reauthorization (07/09)
Senate Democrats call for inclusion of tribal provisions in VAWA (6/27)
Blog: Sexual assault at epidemic level among Native Americans (6/26)
Opinion: Race, tribal authority and Violence Against Women Act (05/29)
Tulalip Tribes vice chair shares personal story for VAWA debate (05/23)
BIA disputes Republican report on Violence Against Women Act (5/18)
The Votes: Crossing party lines on Violence Against Women Act (5/18)
Opinion: Native women deserve protection from their abusers (5/18)
Tribes slam weakened version of Violence Against Women Act (5/17)
House approves version of VAWA bill without tribal provisions (5/17)
GOP bill report questions data on crime against Indian women (5/16)

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