Speech #1130114031

Now. we know that this bill would eliminate DACA for DREAMers and make them deportable. but few in this body may know that the bill also returns to our bitter 2year fight about reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. It took this House 2 years to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act at the beginning of this Congress. and when we did it. we did it over the strong opposition of the majority of House Republicans. Todays bill undermines the basic premise of that act. that victims of domestic violence should be empowered to leave their abusers. It does that by denying the ability of battered immigrant spouses who have left their abusers and successfully selfpetitioned for a VAWA visa the ability to work for the months it may take for a visa number to become available. This one change will prevent countless battered immigrant spouses from ever leaving their abusers and will drive others right back into the hands of their abusers. Now. we have heard a lot of discussion about the law. but I think it is important to recall that the ability to make prosecutorial decisions is wellgrounded in the law. In fact. in 1999.