WASHINGTON — The House has passed and sent to President Barack Obama a far-reaching extension of the Violence Against Women Act.
The vote comes after House Republican leaders accepted a Senate bill that was passed two weeks ago on a strong bipartisan vote.
The House vote to reauthorize the 1994 law that has set the standard for anti-violence programs came after lawmakers rejected a more limited approach from Republicans.
The law expired in 2011, and has been stuck in political limbo as the House, up to now, has resisted Senate efforts to enlarge the scope of the legislation to extend its protections to homosexuals, immigrants and Native American women.
With House approval of the Senate bill, Obama will sign the reauthorization of the law that laid the foundation for federal efforts to better protect women, and some men, from domestic abuse and better prosecute the abusers.
Read tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.