Pelosi Update

Yesterday, we celebrated the passage of the Senate version of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) following the failure of the partisan and discriminatory proposal put forth this week by House Republicans. With House Democrats pushing for a stronger, more comprehensive reauthorization, the Senate’s version passed the House by a vote of 286-138, extending the law’s crucial protections to LGBT, Native American and immigrant victims, providing for more rape kits as well as a national registry of forensic evidence from sexual assault cases, strengthening criminal anti-trafficking statutes, providing for temporary housing for victims, and addressing domestic violence on American college campuses.

President Obama and Democrats agree: America cannot afford more Republican obstruction and delay. The stakes are too high and time is running too short. Inaction will simply leave the indiscriminate, across-the-board spending cuts in place – threatening jobs, undermining public safety and first responders, injecting uncertainty into our markets, and harming our economy.

This week, President Obama spoke directly to the American people about solutions to our most pressing challenges: how to create economic growth with jobs, strengthen the middle class, and responsibly reduce the deficit. His agenda is a reflection of the fundamental American values of opportunity, equality, and fairness for all. His proposals reflect a core vision shared by House Democrats: that a strong, thriving middle class is essential to a strong, prosperous America. The President’s objectives match the priorities of House Democrats.

The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is essential to the well-being of our middle class. For more than 20 years, working families have used the FMLA to take unpaid leave for things like caring for a new baby or dealing with a family member’s serious medical condition, without penalty from employers. California has led the way in strengthening the FMLA, becoming the first state to enact a paid family leave insurance program, while San Francisco has made paid sick days standard.

Last month, all Members of Congress took an oath to protect and defend the Constitution and the American people. Over the past two weeks, House Democrats have come together to fulfill that duty, holding hearings and briefings to listen to powerful, poignant testimony from Americans who have dealt firsthand with gun violence – and seeking ways to prevent it in the future.

For nearly two decades, the Violence Against Women Act has brought domestic violence out of the shadows, protected women and children from harm, and saved lives. This week, House Democrats introduced the Violence Against Women Act of 2013 and vowed to work towards the swift passage of this critical legislation.

In the 113th Congress, we have an opportunity for a new beginning to work together to strengthen our middle class and small businesses and grow our economy. We have a moral imperative to invest in good-paying jobs and in the prosperity of our people, as we build our infrastructure and reduce the deficit. We must ensure that innovation rests at the heart of our success; that we remain first in science, technology, engineering and energy; that we educate and prepare our youth for the opportunities of tomorrow, as we make it in America.