The Veep recalled many Republicans' unwillingness earlier this year to renew the bill when provisions were added to protect Native American women and gays.
When it comes to the Violence Against Women Act, House Republicans behaved as if they were living in the Stone Age, according to Joe Biden.
On Thursday night, the vice president knocked GOP lawmakers for not renewing the legislation sooner.
“I’m going to say something outrageous,” Biden said at an event at the Naval Observatory marking the 19th anniversary of VAWA, which Biden spearheaded nearly two decades ago. He said he understands both the Senate and the House and that he became irritated at conservatives who did not immediately renew the bill, citing concerns over provisions to protect Native American women and prohibit discrimination against LGBT victims.
Biden characterized skeptics of reauthorization as “this sort of Neanderthal crowd,” according to a pool report.
The Republican-led House renewed the act in February after it was in legislative limbo for a year following its expiration in September 2011. It passed with a 286 to 138 vote, with a majority of GOPers voting against it. All Democrats and 87 Republican lawmakers voted in favor for it.
At the event, Biden praised the women in the Senate who helped convince Republicans.
“It makes a difference with women in the Senate…Because they go and look all the rest of those guys in the eye and say ‘Look. This is important to me.’”