FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Eben Burnham-Snyder, Rep. Ed Markey, 202-225-2836

WASHINGTON (February 28, 2013) – Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), the dean of the Massachusetts delegation, released the following statement after the House passed the Senate version of the Violence Against Women Act after rejecting the ideological version put forward by House Republicans:

“The United States should protect and defend its citizens without regard for race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or heritage, and passing VAWA affirms and advances that essential tenet of our society. This bill should have never been delayed, it should have never been eviscerated, it should have never been used as a political pawn by far right Republicans.

“I stand with America's women, children, immigrants, and LGBT and Native American communities to say ‘no more’ to delays or denials in the deliverance of justice and protections for all Americans.”

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