“Every day House Republicans stall, another three women will die at the hands of their abusers.”

Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid spoke on the Senate floor today about the Violence Against Women Act. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery.

I am optimistic that today the Senate will complete work on an important, bipartisan measure – reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. But Senate passage means little if our counterparts in the House of Representatives fail to act on this crucial legislation again. The Republican-controlled House failed to act last year, and the women of America do not want them to fail again.

I was reassured to hear House Majority Leader Eric Cantor say yesterday that he “care[s] very deeply about women,” and said the House would act to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act. But Americans heard that same promise last year. And despite overwhelming evidence that this legislation saves lives, House Republican leaders used procedural gimmicks and stall tactics to block its reauthorization.

I would remind Leader Cantor and his Republican colleagues of the seriousness of delay. Every minute House Republicans wait to act, another 24 Americans will become victims of domestic violence. Every day House Republicans stall, another three women will die at the hands of their abusers. Every year House Republicans put off action in order to please extremists within their own party more than 200,000 women will be sexually assaulted, more than 2 million women will be stalked and more than 1.3 million women will be abused by their partners.

It has been almost 300 days since the Senate passed a bipartisan bill to help law enforcement officials protect women and families across the country. But despite strong, bipartisan support in the Senate, Republicans in the House have refused to join the effort to end domestic abuse. These partisan delays put women’s lives at risk.

Thousands have written letters, sent emails and called to support this bill. One Nevada woman shared her story – the story of how her partner held a gun to her head and threatened to pull the trigger. She escaped with her life. Many women aren’t so fortunate. Every year, more than 1,000 women are killed by domestic abusers.

Since the Violence Against Women Act expired, more than 16 million Americans have been victimized. The law is effective. In the two decades since it was enacted, the law has helped millions of women escape their attackers and seek justice. But there is obviously much more work to do.

So I say to my friend, Leader Cantor, it is time for Republican leaders to stop talking about how much they care about women, and start acting to protect women. More than a third of women in this country have been victims of violence, sexual assault or stalking by a partner. Congress must do everything in its power to help law enforcement officials prevent these terrible crimes and prosecute the perpetrators.

Reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act would help law enforcement improve strategies to prosecute violent crimes against women, provide legal assistance to victims of violence and funding for shelters that allow women to escape their abusers and safeguard youth who experience dating violence or stalking. Until we fully reauthorize the law, authorities will not have all the tools they need to fight domestic violence.

Today I hope the Senate will take bipartisan action – for the second time in two years – to protect American women and their children. And I hope the House will quickly follow suit. I trust Leader Cantor’s word that this legislation is a priority. But I won’t be the only one holding him to his promise to swiftly reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act. One hundred sixty million American women are also watching and waiting to see if he turns words into action.

“Allowing partisan delays to put women’s lives at risk is simply shameful.”

“Full reauthorization of the law is necessary to ensure authorities have all the resources they need to fight domestic violence.”

Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid spoke on the Senate floor today regarding reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery.

In the two decades since the Violence Against Women Act passed both houses of Congress on strong, bipartisan votes, incidents of domestic violence have fallen by 53 percent.

The law has helped millions of women and children escape their attackers and get the justice they deserve.

That’s why Congress twice reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act without a hint of controversy or a moment of delay.

But despite the overwhelming evidence that this legislation saves lives and protects women, House Republicans used every procedural trick in the book to block its reauthorization last Congress.

And despite strong, bipartisan support in the Senate, Republicans in the House refused to join the effort to renew our national commitment to ending domestic violence.

Allowing partisan delays to put women’s lives at risk is simply shameful.

If House Republicans believe domestic violence is no longer a problem in this country, they’re flat wrong.

Every day, three women in America die at the hands of their abusers.

And every day nine more women escape with their lives – but with the physical and emotional scars of abuse.

More than a third of women in this country have been victims of violence, sexual assault or stalking by a partner.

It is in our power to help them. And it is unthinkable that Republicans in the House would prevent us from taking action.

Victims of violence and the law enforcement officials who support them have already waited too long for Congress to act.

This week, the Senate will pass a strong, bipartisan reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.

I thank Chairman Leahy, Senator Murray and the women of the Senate Democratic Caucus for their leadership on this issue.

I am pleased so many of my Senate Republicans colleagues have expressed support for swift action on the Violence Against Women Act during this new Congress.

The Senate will not allow women to be denied the protection they need and deserve.

We must ensure law enforcement has the means to stop these heinous crimes.

And we must guarantee communities have the resources to support victims – regardless of sexual orientation, immigration status or where they live – as they heal.

Every victim of domestic violence deserves the same vigorous protections under the law.

Because of the unique nature of the crime, combating domestic violence and protecting those affected also requires unique tools.

Reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act would help law enforcement continue to develop effective strategies to prosecute cases involving violent crimes against women.

It would provide funding for shelters and transitional housing programs for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, and to help victims get back on their feet.

It would make legal assistance available to victims of violence, and safeguard children and youth affected by dating violence and stalking.

Although the Violence Against Women Act expired in 2011, many of the programs established under the law have been funded by continuing resolutions.

But a full reauthorization of the law is necessary to ensure authorities have all the resources they need to fight domestic violence.

I hope the Senate’s bipartisan action this week will send a strong message to House Republican leaders that further partisan delay is unacceptable.

“More than a third of women in this country have been victims of violence, sexual assault or stalking by a partner. Today’s strong bipartisan vote will give law enforcement agencies the tools they need to prosecute and convict the perpetrators of these heinous crimes, and will help victims get the protection and support they need.

“I urge my colleagues in the House to quickly approve the Senate’s bipartisan bill. Since Congress approved the Violence Against Women Act for the first time in 1994, domestic violence incidents have fallen by fifty-three percent. One case of abuse is one too many, and every day that law enforcement agencies lack all of the tools they need to combat domestic abuse is one day too many.”

Senators Dianne Feinstein, Patty Murray and Jeanne Shaheen stressed that regardless of party affiliation, senators must work together to advance the legislation. Watch the video below to hear them explain why: