The U.S. House voted 286-138 today to pass a Senate version of a bill renewing the Violence Against Women Act. The measure now heads to President Obama, who is expected to sign it.
Eighty-seven Republicans joined all 199 Democrats to pass the bill in the House.
Earlier, House Republicans failed to pass their own version of the bill, struggling again with an issue important to women and minority groups.
Originally passed in 1994 and reauthorized since, the act provides support for organizations that serve domestic violence victims. Criminal prosecutions of abusers are generally the responsibility of local authorities, but the act stiffened sentences for stalking under federal law.
www.cnn.com
Eighty-seven Republicans joined all 199 Democrats to pass the bill in the House.
Earlier, House Republicans failed to pass their own version of the bill, struggling again with an issue important to women and minority groups.
Originally passed in 1994 and reauthorized since, the act provides support for organizations that serve domestic violence victims. Criminal prosecutions of abusers are generally the responsibility of local authorities, but the act stiffened sentences for stalking under federal law.
www.cnn.com
