Then-freshman Congressman John Mica cast his vote against VAWA in 1994
Today marks the 22nd anniversary of the landmark Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which was signed into law on September 13, 1994. Although the bill passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support, then-freshman Congressman John Mica voted against the measure. He doubled-down on his opposition to the law – which made funds available for a national hotline for domestic violence victims, and allowed women to pursue civil cases against violent sex-motivated crimes – by voting against VAWA reauthorization in 2013.
Mica has opposed VAWA for over twenty years, but his antiquated, anti-women views date back even further – in 1980, Mica even supported legalizing marital rape, a position he has refused to address as recently as this year.
“Today’s anniversary is a reminder that there is no better example of how out-of-touch John Mica is than his decades-long opposition to the critically important Violence Against Women Act and support for legalizing marital rape,” said Christie Stephenson of the DCCC. “For as long as he’s been in public life, John Mica has refused to stand up for women. This November, when Orlando women and families send him packing, he can set himself to work on the first time machine back to the 1950s where he clearly belongs.”
Background:
In August 1994, John Mica Voted Against Authorizing The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). “Under the Violence Against Women program, money will be available to pay for a national hot line for victims of domestic violence, to train police officers, prosecutors and judges about sex-based crimes and to encourage states to adopt laws and policies calling for the mandatory arrest of abusive husbands and partners. The legislation will also allow women to file civil suits in cases of violent crimes motivated by sex bias, thus releasing them from the exclusive control of prosecutors who may or may not choose to move forward with criminal trials.” The bill passed with bipartisan support, 235-195, and was signed into law by President Clinton on September 13, 1994. [HR 3355, Vote #416, 8/21/94; New York Times, 8/25/94]
Voted Against Reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act. In February 2013, Mica voted against reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act. The bill would reauthorize the Act for five years, having previously expired in 2011. The bill would authorize funds for law enforcement training programs, prosecution and victim services. It would also give American Indian tribal courts additional authority over non-tribal domestic violence offenders, and make it illegal for victim services organizations that receive grant funding through the law to discriminate on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation. The bill passed with bipartisan support, 286-138. [S. 47, Vote #55, 2/28/13; CQ, 2/28/13]