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(WSIL)--The U.S. House of Representatives voted to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, and Representative Mike Bost crossed party lines to vote in favor of the bill.

29 Republicans voted for the bill, which would offer more protections and funding for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Bost said he voted for the bill because these protections are too important to not act now.

"As a father, I always am being protective of not only my daughters and granddaughters, my wife as well. Unfortunately it's heartbreaking to see how many people, and how many women, have been victims," said Bost.

Bost also said it's now more important than ever to renew this bill, as domestic violence rates have gone up due to the COVID-19 pandemic.