Assembly Women and Children Committee Pamela Lampitt (D-Camden/Burlington) released the following statement upon President Obama signing the reauthorized Violence Against Women Act into law on Wednesday:
“I am pleased to see the President sign this critically-needed legislation back into law. The Violence Against Women Act is a landmark law that provides crucial protections and services for victims of domestic violence, and it should never have been permitted to lapse in the first place.
“It is both noteworthy and extremely disturbing that two of our state’s representatives voted against reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act.
“Republican Congressmen Scott Garrett and Chris Smith’s disgraceful ‘no’ votes are a complete embarrassment to the state of New Jersey. Protecting women and domestic abuse victims should not be a partisan issue. New Jersey deserves better than Congressmen who will put Tea Party politics over the needs of New Jersey’s women.”