H.R. 4970 - Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2012

Bill Text

    Text of H.R. 4970 PDF XML

    Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2012

    Text of H. Rept. 112-480 Part 1 PDF XML

    Report from the Committee on the Judiciary

Rule Information

COMMITTEE ACTION:
REPORTED BY RECORD VOTE of 7-2 on Tuesday, May 15, 2012.

FLOOR ACTION ON H. RES. 656: 
Adopted by record vote of 235-186, 1 Present, after agreeing to the previous question by a record vote of 235-187 and to the consideration of the resolution by record vote of 239-183, on Wednesday, May 16, 2012. 

MANAGERS: Foxx/Polis

1. Closed rule for H.R. 4970.

2. Provides one hour general debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on the Judiciary.

3. Waives all points of order against consideration of the bill.

4. Provides that the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary now printed in the bill, as modified by the amendment printed in the Rules Committee report, shall be considered as adopted. The bill, as amended, shall be considered as read.

5. Waives all points of order against provisions in the bill, as amended.

6. Provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions.

7. General debate rule for H.R. 4310.

8. Provides one hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Armed Services.

9. Waives all points of order against consideration of the bill.

10. Provides that no further consideration of the bill shall occur except pursuant to a subsequent order of the House.

Amendments (click headers to sort)

# Version # Sponsor(s) Party Summary Status
1 Version 1 Adams (FL) Republican Manager's amendment: would (i) continue the role of Vermont service center in adjudicating self-petitions by battered aliens; (ii) prohibit USCIS from interviewing alleged batterers; (iii) reduce evidentiary standards petitioners must meet; (iv) authorize domestic violence victims or Indian tribes on behalf of victims to seek protection orders from U.S. district courts against Indian or non-Indian abusers; (v) require Attorney General and HHS Secretary to provide appropriate training and technical assistance to grant recipients on how to comply with financial record-keeping and accounting practices; (vi) maintain language from 2005 re-authorization that was inadvertently omitted to authorize VAWA funds to be used for culturally specific programs; (vii) modify nondiscrimination clause to ensure that faith-based groups are not required to forfeit their ability to make employment decisions on a religious basis when they receive funds from programs; and (viii) make technical and conforming changes. Considered as Adopted
10 Version 1 Biggert (IL) Republican Would modernize the law’s definitions to reflect the input of victim service providers, would include specific protections for immigrant victims, and would clarify that LGBT individuals can be served by VAWA programs in all states. Submitted
6 Version 1 Conyers (MI), Moore, Gwen (WI), Lofgren (CA) Democrat Would strike all after the enacting clause and insert the language of the bipartisan Senate-passed VAWA Reauthorization S. 1925. Submitted
3 Version 1 Griffith (VA) Republican Would facilitate the development of a State-based process to allow for the restoration of civil rights, specifically gun rights, of prior convicted individuals. Submitted
4 Version 1 Jackson Lee (TX) Democrat Would increase the percentage of Debbie Smith grant funds that are available for use in testing the backlog of rape kits, from the current 40 percent up to 70 percent. Submitted
2 Version 1 LoBiondo (NJ), Visclosky (IN) Bi-Partisan Would extend the authorization for the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant program through 2016. Submitted
9 Version 1 Polis (CO) Democrat Would strike section 801, 802, 806, and 813. Submitted
5 Version 1 Scott, Bobby (VA) Democrat Would remove provisions in the bill that would impose mandatory minimum sentences. Submitted
7 Version 1 Smith, Christopher (NJ) Republican Would express the sense of Congress that each state should ensure victims of sexual assault are eligible for permanent protection orders. Submitted
8 Version 1 Smith, Christopher (NJ) Republican Would amend the VAWA purpose areas to include providing assistance and statutory authority to victims of sexual assault seeking permanent protection orders; and expresses the sense of Congress that each state should ensure victims of sexual assault are eligible for permanent protection orders. Submitted

Committee Votes

Rules Committee Record Vote No. 219

Motion by Mr. McGovern to amend the rule to H.R. 4970 to grant H.R. 4970 an open rule. Defeated: 2–7.

Majority Member
Vote
Mr. Sessions
No Vote
Ms. Foxx
Nay
Nay
Mr. Woodall
Nay
Mr. Nugent
Nay
Mr. Scott
Nay
Mr. Webster
Nay
Mr. Dreier, Chairman
Nay
Minority Member
Vote
Ms. Slaughter
No Vote
Mr. McGovern
Yea
Mr. Hastings
Yea
Mr. Polis
No Vote
Rules Committee Record Vote No. 220

Motion by Mr. McGovern to amend the rule to H.R. 4970 to make in order and provide the appropriate waivers for amendment #6, offered by Rep. Conyers Jr. (MI) and Rep. Lofgren (CA) and Rep. Moore (WI), which would strike all after the enacting clause and insert the language of the bipartisan Senate-passed VAWA Reauthorization S. 1925. Defeated: 2–7.

Majority Member
Vote
Mr. Sessions
No Vote
Ms. Foxx
Nay
Nay
Mr. Woodall
Nay
Mr. Nugent
Nay
Mr. Scott
Nay
Mr. Webster
Nay
Mr. Dreier, Chairman
Nay
Minority Member
Vote
Ms. Slaughter
No Vote
Mr. McGovern
Yea
Mr. Hastings
Yea
Mr. Polis
No Vote
Rules Committee Record Vote No. 221

Motion by Mr. Hastings of Florida to amend the rule to H.R. 4970 to make in order and provide the appropriate waivers for amendment #5, offered by Rep. Scott (VA), which would remove provisions in the bill that would impose mandatory minimum sentences. Defeated: 2–7.

Majority Member
Vote
Mr. Sessions
No Vote
Ms. Foxx
Nay
Nay
Mr. Woodall
Nay
Mr. Nugent
Nay
Mr. Scott
Nay
Mr. Webster
Nay
Mr. Dreier, Chairman
Nay
Minority Member
Vote
Ms. Slaughter
No Vote
Mr. McGovern
Yea
Mr. Hastings
Yea
Mr. Polis
No Vote
Rules Committee Record Vote No. 222

Motion by Ms. Foxx to report the rule. Adopted: 7-2.

Majority Member
Vote
Mr. Sessions
No Vote
Ms. Foxx
Yea
Yea
Mr. Woodall
Yea
Mr. Nugent
Yea
Mr. Scott
Yea
Mr. Webster
Yea
Mr. Dreier, Chairman
Yea
Minority Member
Vote
Ms. Slaughter
No Vote
Mr. McGovern
Nay
Mr. Hastings
Nay
Mr. Polis
No Vote