Press Releases
Today, the Republican leadership announced they will bring their version of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) reauthorization to the House Floor next week. As opposed to S. 47, which passed the Senate with a bipartisan vote of 78 to 22 last week, the House Republican version of VAWA omits protections for the LGBT, Native women, and immigrant communities. It also excludes provisions that combat sex trafficking, and that would have helped law enforcement address the backlog in DNA evidence kits.
Today, House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) and Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-Wisc.) released this statement following the Senate passage of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), S. 47, by a vote of 78 to 22. This Senate-passed bill is almost identical to the bill introduced in January by Reps. Moore and Conyers (H.R. 11). VAWA supporters in the House look forward to retaining the Senate improvements.
This past Sunday, former Congresswoman Cardiss Collins (D-Ill.) passed away in Arlington, Virginia at the age of 81. Representative Collins was the first black congresswoman from Illinois and represented her Midwestern district for nearly 25 years. During the 96th Congress she served as chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, and in the 104th Congress she served as ranking member of the Government Reform and Oversight Committee. Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) issued this statement following the news of her passing:
This afternoon, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued a final rule formalizing, "the national standard for determining whether a housing practice violates the Fair Housing Act as a result of discriminatory effect." After the announcement of this rule, Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) issued the following statement:
Today, Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.), along with other members of the House Democratic Caucus, participated in a Democratic Issues Conference in Leesburg, Virginia which included addresses by President Obama and Vice President Biden.
This morning, the U.S. House Judiciary Committee held a full committee hearing entitled, "America's Immigration System: Opportunities for Legal Immigration and Enforcement of Laws Against Illegal Immigration." During opening remarks Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) delivered the following statement:
Today, Members on the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. (R-Wis.), Rep. John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.), Rep. Jerrold L. Nadler (D-N.Y.), Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio), Rep. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-Va.), and Rep. Melvin L. Watt (D-N.C.), filed a brief as amici curiae in the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Shelby Country v.
Yesterday, Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) participated in a forum put on by the Gun Violence Prevention Taskforce, established by Minority Leader Pelosi. Following his participation in the forum, Congressman Conyers issued this statement:
"As gun violence continues to pervade our nation, I commend the Gun Violence Prevention Taskforce for their continued focus on the issue.
On January 22, 1973, the United States Supreme Court delivered its landmark decision in Roe v. Wade, affirming the constitutional protection right of women to determine their own personal health care choices without undue government influence. Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) issued this statement to mark the historic anniversary:
"40 years ago the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade affirmed the right of women to make their own healthcare decisions.
Today, Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) participated in two events highlighting the need for Congress to take action against gun violence. In the morning, Congressman Conyers attended an event at the White House, hosted by President Barak Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, at which the President set forth a package of recommendations on gun violence reduction.