Cornyn Calls on Democrats to Come Back to VAWA Negotiating Table

Yeserday on the floor, I discussed my longtime support for the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), the work his Republican colleagues’ have put into drafting a nonpartisan bill, and the Democrats decision to walk away from negotiations. Excerpts of my floor remarks are below, and video can be found here.

As a long-term victims' rights advocate myself, I’m a proud supporter of the Violence Against Women Act, and I’ve consistently fought not only to continue it, but to strengthen it as well.

For many months now, Senator Ernst has been working with Senator Dianne Feinstein, the senator from California, to find ways to make improvements that both sides can agree on. That's the way things get done around here.

They took the easy way out and simply walked away and introduced their own partisan reauthorization, one that they know has no chance of passing.

Despite the games being played here, my Republican colleagues and I are working to put in the hard work that it takes to actually accomplish something and legislate. Senator Ernst said she'll soon be introducing a good-faith proposal that actually has the chance to become law. It's not a partisan document.

It's a shame that something as urgent and undeniably important as combatting domestic violence and sexual assault has somehow fallen prey to Washington, D.C. politics. I hope our colleagues will reconsider and return to the negotiating table.