WASHINGTON (AP) — Calling a truce in partisan battles, Congress appears ready to approve a bill that expands the nation's primary law on protecting women from domestic violence.
The Republican-led House on Thursday is expected to first reject its own attempt to renew the Violence Against Women Act before voting for a more ambitious bill that passed the Senate two weeks ago.
With that, President Barack Obama will sign into law the reauthorization of the 1994 law that laid the foundation for federal efforts to better protect women, and some men, from domestic abuse.
The law expired in 2011 and has been stuck in political limbo as the House, up to now, has resisted Senate efforts to expand the law to better protect gays and lesbians, immigrants and Native American women.
