“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.

This week the Senate must complete work on legislation to enact crucial reforms that will prevent drug shortages and bring life-saving medicines to market more quickly.

Senator Harkin and Senator Enzi – a Democrat and a Republican – worked very hard to bring this legislation to the floor.

I am cautiously optimistic that spirit of bipartisan collaboration continues – because Democrats can’t pass this legislation without the cooperation of our Republican colleagues.

I certainly hope they will allow us to advance this bill this evening without the additional delay of another filibuster.

I would like Senators from both parties to be free to offer relevant amendments to improve a worthy bill.

But before we can get to work on this legislation in earnest, my Republican colleagues must stop their filibuster.

Americans living with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses are watching closely to see whether the Senate is capable of quick action to ease shortages of crucial medicines – or whether we will once more be paralyzed by Republican obstruction.

Student Loans

Americans have seen that obstruction time and again this Congress.

They are frustrated with the slow pace of Senate action to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, on Iran sanctions and on legislation to stop interest rates from doubling on federal student loans.

Earlier this month, Republicans blocked one attempt to keep higher education affordable for 7 million students.

But Democrats haven’t given up. I only hope our Republican colleagues will come to their senses and allow us to prevent this crisis before it’s too late.

Iran Sanctions

Republican obstruction and infighting have also stalled critical new sanctions against Iran.

For two months, Democrats have worked to resolve Republican objections to this bipartisan measure, which passed out of the Banking Committee unanimously.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. Sanctions are a key tool to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, threatening Israel and jeopardizing U.S. national security.

We cannot afford any more delays to putting stronger sanctions in place.

I am hopeful my Republican colleagues will realize how important it is to advance these measures and prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

Violence Against Women

Republicans have also needlessly blocked progress on reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. This helps law enforcement effectively combat and prosecute domestic crimes against women.

Although both Chambers have passed a version of this legislation, House Republicans have refused to go to conference with the Senate.

Their excuse – a hyper-technical budget issue called a blue slip – isn’t much of a fig leaf to hide their blatant obstruction.

The truth is Republicans are looking for any excuse to stall or kill this worthy legislation. And American women aren’t fooled.

If Republicans really want to give police the tools they need to prosecute domestic abusers, they will drop the facade.

If Republicans really care about protecting women and families, they will abandon their hyper-technical objections and join us in conference. The differences between the House and Senate-passed bills could be worked out easily.

American women and families are counting on our action.

Inaction

But this Congress Republicans have been more interested in inaction than in getting things done.

They’re more interested in blocking worthy legislation for partisan gain than in working together.

Their infighting and partisan games have stopped reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, Iran sanctions and the student loan fix in their tracks.

The FDA bill – which will prevent drug shortages and making life-saving medicines available more quickly – must not become another victim of their partisanship.

I hope Republicans seize this opportunity to be cooperative rather than combative.

“I wish families in Nevada and across the country a happy Mother’s Day, and I thank moms everywhere for the hard work they do every day.

“Like so many mothers, mine taught me that I could handle anything the world could throw at me, even if the odds were stacked against me. My mother’s words have guided me through my life and through my years in public service. Washing clothes for others and running our household, my mother worked tirelessly to give me and my brothers everything that was within her reach. Her memory is a driving force behind the I work I do in the Senate to support families in Nevada and across the country. We in the Senate must continue to be advocates for mothers today, so they can encourage their children to dream and give them the tools to turn those aspirations into reality.

“This day is an important reminder why Congress should do everything possible to assure and expand mothers’ access to healthcare and right the inequities that still affect them in the workplace. I fought to pass The Affordable Care Act, which significantly improves critical health services for women, and ends discriminatory practices against women by insurance companies. Since its passage, 45 million American women have gained access to free preventative health care, including maternity coverage and other services for young mothers. In April, the Senate reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act, or VAWA, which makes legal assistance available to victims of violence, and protects children affected by domestic violence. Through VAWA we reaffirmed our national commitment to protect mothers and all American women against abuse.

“Laws like the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which we passed in 2009, ensure that women have the tools to fight for just pay. But much lies ahead of us. It is unconscionable that women still make 77 cents for every dollar a man makes doing similar work. Because of this, the Senate will move in the coming weeks to approve legislation that will help narrow this gap. As our economy continues to mend, this this is the least we can do for the sake of America’s mothers and their families.”

“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: