The House of Representatives approved the Senate-passed Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) reauthorization bill, S. 47, on February 28. The measure, which passed the Senate on February 12 (see Memo, 2/15), is expected to be signed into law by President Obama. The measure was approved after a Republican effort to pass an amendment in the nature of a substitute failed by a vote of 166 to 257. The failed amendment omitted some provisions in the Senate-passed bill, including those that ensure that lesbian, gay, transgendered, and bisexual individuals are covered by VAWA’s protections. The Republican version also would have removed language to further protect immigrant and Native American survivors of abuse. This is the third time this year that House Republican leadership has opted to bring forward a major bill that does not garner votes from a “majority of the majority,” the so-called Hastert rule. The measure passed by a vote of 286 to 139, with just 87 Republicans voting in support of the bill.S.47 expands the federal housing programs covered by VAWA housing protections to include Rural Development housing programs and Low Income Housing Tax Credit-funded properties. The bill ensures that survivors of sexual assault, in addition to survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking are covered by the protections. The measure requires public housing agencies and subsidized housing owners to provide notice of VAWA rights to residents, and to adopt emergency transfer plans for residents who need to move due to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Click here for the full text of S. 47.