victorious today with the adoption of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 286-138. We need to be happy for an act like this. protections for victims. VAWA is on its way to President Obama’s desk.”

Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Passes with Increased Protections for Women

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Women and supporters for the prevention and elimination of domestic and sexual violence were victorious today with the adoption of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 286-138. 

“Domestic and sexual violence against women and families demands action and attention,” said U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor. “Law enforcement, our local advocates and nonprofit champions need the tools to prevent abuse and serve victims. So, after months of inaction by House Republicans, I am gratified by the defeat of their version of the bill, which considerably narrowed protections for victims. VAWA is on its way to President Obama’s desk.”

VAWA originally passed 19 years ago with bipartisan support to focus resources, time and energy of federal, state and local law enforcement on the task of preventing and stopping domestic abuse, while providing victims with critical services and assistance. Based on this legislation, every state has enacted laws to make stalking a crime and strengthened criminal rape statutes.

“In the past year for Hillsborough alone, the Crisis Center responded and worked with 183,000 people -- mostly women -- who were victims and would benefit from the support provided by the Senate’s version of the bill,” said David Braughton, president of the Crisis Center. “We thank Rep. Castor for her continued support of women and victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence.”

VAWA expired in 2011 and last year the U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan reauthorization of VAWA, with key provisions that strengthened the law, by a vote of 68 to 31. However, the Republican leadership in the House refused to bring this bipartisan bill to the floor, and VAWA failed to secure reauthorization in the last Congress.

Last month, House and Senate members reintroduced the reauthorization of VAWA to extend and strengthen the legislation’s existing provisions, and expand protections to LGBT Americans, immigrants and Native Americans. The Senate passed it earlier this month, but the House provided a substitute that rolled back essential protections.

The Senate version of VAWA ensures that all victims – including college students, Native Americans, immigrants, and the LGBT community -- of domestic and sexual violence receive the protection they need. The Senate passed it Feb. 12 with an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 78-22 and was supported by every Democrat, every woman Senator and the majority of Senate Republicans. Rep. Castor then urged the House to take up the bill.

“I salute The Spring of Tampa Bay, CASA of St. Petersburg, the Crisis Center, the Family Justice Center, University of Tampa, USF advocates and others for their input and service to our neighbors. The bill that passed today is responsive to all victims, and has support of law enforcement and service providers around the country,” Rep. Castor said.

This morning’s vote reauthorizes VAWA through 2018.

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Romanian officials are investigating whether horsemeat found in beef products in Britain and France came from a Romanian abattoir. JR Topics

Horsemeat scandal: Focus switches to Romania

They said they would take action if laws had been broken.

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson said a moratorium on EU meat imports, which some people have called for, was not allowed under EU rules.

In France, six supermarket chains have withdrawn ready-meals from food groups Findus and Comigel.

Earlier this week, Findus UK took its frozen beef lasagne, made by Comigel, off the shelves after some were found to have up to 100% horsemeat in them.

Romania's president, Traian Basescu, said if false labelling had been carried out with the intention of making money that would discredit the country for a long time and raise the risk of export restrictions.

Constantin Savu, a representative of Romania's National Food Safety Authority, said more than 25 abattoirs there were authorised not only to butcher horsemeat but also to export it within the EU.

But he added: "We cannot know what happens to it... after it exits the abattoir." He said an investigation was under way to establish what had happened.

Mr Basescu warned Romania would be discredited if claims of false labelling were proven to be true

Speaking about the growing scandal of horsemeat contamination, Mr Paterson said the British government was determined to "get to the bottom of it" and was working closely with other European governments.

But he added: "It looks as if the problem is limited to processed food and it looks as if there has been criminal substitution of beef with horse."

Findus France has said it will take action in the French courts, believing itself to be the victim of fraud.

But the company that supplied the meat, Spanghero, based in southern France, has also said it was the victim of fraud - and intends to sue its Romanian supplier.

In the latest developments:

• Six French supermarket chains - Carrefour, Monoprix, Auchan, Casino, Cora and Picard - withdrew ready-meals from Findus and Comigel
• Findus UK said the only product on sale in the UK using ingredients from the French supplier had been its beef lasagne product, and all other beef products on sale in the UK had been DNA-tested and cleared
• The Food Standards Agency said public institutions, including schools, prisons, hospitals, and the armed forces, should be using reputable suppliers, but if they were not satisfied with their assurances they could require the supplier to conduct tests, and reject or temporarily withhold stock
• Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said he was confident patients eating food in hospitals were not being put at risk, and emphasised that it was fraud issue, rather than a food safety issue
• The chairwoman of the Commons food and rural affairs committee, Conservative MP Anne McIntosh, called for a temporary ban on all processed or frozen meat imports from the EU until the source of the contamination was found
• Shadow environment secretary Mary Creagh said "a measured, controlled response" which was "proportionate" was needed.

The French minister for consumer affairs, Benoit Hamon, said it appeared financial gain was the motive of the fraud and overall it could have netted the perpetrators £250,000.

Horsemeat in France is not noticeably cheaper than beef, but according to the Green MEP Jose Bove the price of horsemeat has recently fallen dramatically in Romania following a new law there banning horses and carts on the highway.

He said this could have opened tempting possibilities for cheating.

Between fresh and processed, the UK consumes more fresh or frozen beef.

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