The Senate passed the Violence Against Women Act on Thursday in a 68-31 vote, with all of the no votes coming from Republican men.

Ten Republican men and all of the female Republican senators voted in favor of the bill, which would increase penalties on criminals convicted of domestic violence and provides additional funding to programs to reduce sexual assaults and domestic violence.



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The legislation had been caught up in the battle for female votes in the presidential election, and GOP leaders decided to allow the bill to proceed to limit any political damage from it.The legislation faces a rockier road in the House, however, where rival legislation has been offered by Republican lawmakers.

Sen. Kay Hagan Kay Ruthven HaganThe Hill's Campaign Report: Democratic Unity Taskforce unveils party platform recommendations Democrats awash with cash in battle for Senate The Hill's Campaign Report: Trump's job approval erodes among groups that powered his 2016 victory MORE (D-N.C.) praised the chamber's passage of the vote.

“I am thrilled that the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act passed the Senate today,” said Hagan. “I'm relieved that my Senate colleagues have put partisanship aside to move this important legislation forward. VAWA is essential to the protection and safety of women, and I urge the House to act swiftly to provide continued protection to victims of violent crimes."

Republicans in the Senate had objected to several other provisions in the bill.

They opposed an increase in visas for victims of domestic violence seeking protection who are illegal immigrants, as well as broadened authority for Native American communities to fight domestic violence and sexual assaults. Republican senators also disagreed with language in the bill that prohibited discrimination of domestic violence victims because of their sexual orientation.



Sen. Mike Lee Michael (Mike) Shumway LeeSupreme Court nominee gives no clues in GOP meeting Barrett to sit with McConnell and other GOP senators in back-to-back meetings This week: Senate kicks off Supreme Court fight MORE (R-Utah), an opponent of the bill, said it was an overreach of federal authority.



“Everyone agrees that against women is reprehensible,” Lee said. “The Violence Against Women Act reauthorization has the honorable goal of assisting victims of domestic violence but it oversteps the Constitution's rightful limits on federal power.



“It interferes with the flexibility of states and localities that they should have in tailoring programs to meet particular needs of individual communities,” he said. “And it fails to address problems of duplication and inefficiency.”



Republicans tried to push an alternate version of that bill that did not include the contentious provisions but that legislation failed.



Senate Republicans were a bit split on the measure, however, as eight members of their caucus were co-sponsors of the legislation.



A day earlier Senate Republicans agreed to let the Democratic-backed bill move forward to a final vote. Republicans in the chamber said they did not want to take the bait and oppose the bill allowing Democrats to label them against women's rights and continue to accuse them of waging a “war on women.”



Democrats pushed back hard on critics of the legislation.



“I believe that opposing the bill before us would defy every ounce of commonsense that I have in my body,” said Sen. Joe Manchin Joseph (Joe) ManchinSenate Democrats want to avoid Kavanaugh 2.0 Energy innovation bill can deliver jobs and climate progress The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by JobsOhio - Trump's tax return bombshell MORE (D-W.Va.). “I am proud sponsor of the Violence Against Women Act as are most of my colleagues here in this body because it is unfathomable that any individual could oppose efforts to ensure women and children are free from violence.”



Just before the vote, the chamber voted on three amendments to the bill, all of which failed in votes that required a majority of 60 senators.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar Amy Klobuchar3 reasons why Biden is misreading the politics of court packing Social media platforms put muscle into National Voter Registration Day Battle lines drawn on precedent in Supreme Court fight MORE's (D-Minn.) amendment to set a minimum amount for rape kit testing funds failed in a 57 -41 vote, while a similar measure from Sen. John Cornyn John CornynBig donors fund state parties at record levels Trump, GOP aim to complete reshaping of federal judiciary Fears grow of chaotic election MORE's (R-Texas) that increased funding but did not set a minimum amount failed 50-48. Cornyn’s bill also would have established a forensic registry for sexual assaults.



A third amendment from Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) failed 36-63. It would have increased the total funding for testing backlogged rape kits and also kept funding for VAWA at the same amount before it was reauthorized in an effort to not increase the country's deficit.



Every Democrat voted for the bill. The Republicans who voted yes were Sens. Lamar Alexander Andrew (Lamar) Lamar AlexanderPoll finds support for independent arbiters resolving 'surprise' medical bills Democratic Senate candidate in Tennessee discusses working-class background Pelosi urges early voting to counter GOP's high court gambit: 'There has to be a price to pay' MORE (Tenn.), Bob Corker Robert (Bob) Phillips CorkerHas Congress captured Russia policy? Tennessee primary battle turns nasty for Republicans Cheney clashes with Trump MORE (Tenn.), Kelly Ayotte Kelly Ann AyotteBottom line Bottom line Bottom Line MORE (N.H.), Scott Brown (Mass.), Dan Coats Daniel (Dan) Ray CoatsFBI chief says Russia is trying to interfere in election to undermine Biden The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Trump, Biden renew push for Latino support Former Intel chief had 'deep suspicions' that Putin 'had something on Trump': book MORE (Ind.), Susan Collins Susan Margaret CollinsSenate Democrats want to avoid Kavanaugh 2.0 Trump's Teflon problem: Nothing sticks, including the 'wins' Durbin: Democrats can 'slow' Supreme Court confirmation 'perhaps a matter of hours, maybe days at most' MORE (Maine), Mike Crapo Michael (Mike) Dean CrapoSupreme Court nominee gives no clues in GOP meeting Barrett to sit with McConnell and other GOP senators in back-to-back meetings Bottom line MORE (Idaho), Dean Heller Dean Arthur HellerOn The Trail: Democrats plan to hammer Trump on Social Security, Medicare Lobbying World Democrats spend big to put Senate in play MORE (Nev.), Kay Bailey Hutchison (Texas), John McCain John Sidney McCainAmerica's presence in Cam Ranh Bay should be more than occasional Meghan McCain, husband welcome first baby girl, Liberty Sage McCain Domenech The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by JobsOhio - Showdown: Trump-Biden debate likely to be nasty MORE (Ariz.), Rob Portman Robert (Rob) Jones PortmanMcConnell locks down key GOP votes in Supreme Court fight Romney undecided on authorizing subpoenas for GOP Obama-era probes Congress needs to prioritize government digital service delivery MORE (Ohio), Olympia Snowe (Maine), David Vitter David Bruce VitterLysol, Charmin keep new consumer brand group lobbyist busy during pandemic Bottom line Bottom line MORE (La.), Lisa Murkowski Lisa Ann MurkowskiEnergy innovation bill can deliver jobs and climate progress Durbin: Democrats can 'slow' Supreme Court confirmation 'perhaps a matter of hours, maybe days at most' Senate GOP set to vote on Trump's Supreme Court pick before election MORE (Alaska), and John Hoeven John Henry HoevenDavis: The Hall of Shame for GOP senators who remain silent on Donald Trump Bottom line Bipartisan senators seek funding for pork producers forced to euthanize livestock MORE (N.D).

Vice President Biden, who was the original author of VAWA, praised the bill's passage. Biden drafted the legislation in 1994 while he was a senator.

"In 2012, we should be beyond questioning the need for the Violence Against Women Act," Biden said in a statement. "This law has been overwhelmingly successful since it was first enacted 17 years ago to improve the criminal justice response to this violent crime and to assist those who experience this abuse. Since then, the law has twice been reauthorized with the broad support of members of both parties. It should still be bigger than politics today."

Biden urged the House to swiftly pass the legislation.

"Now the House needs to act so the president can sign this vital legislation as soon as possible," Biden said.

This story was updated at 6:52 p.m.