Your Calls Helped Ensure Funding for VAWA and VOCA

March 22, 2006

For those who responded to our alert about the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Fund, here's an update on the outcome from our coalition partner, National Network to End Domestic Violence:

Thanks to everyone for your calls and emails to the Senate last week about the VAWA and VOCA amendments. We know that you're eager to hear the outcome . . .

On the night of March 16, the Senate passed the FY 2007 Budget Resolution (SCon Res 83) in a tight vote of 51 to 49. However, because of larger timing issues and last minute committee negotiations, the VAWA and VOCA amendments did not come to a vote.

Please note that no funding was lost for VAWA or VOCA. These amendments on the Budget vote simply would have helped to ensure that there was enough money in the overall Budget for these programs to get fully funded during the Appropriations process. The next step—the Appropriations process—is where the rubber really meets the road because Appropriations bills determine actual spending on specific programs.

Although the VAWA and VOCA amendments did not get offered, your efforts to contact your Senators were incredibly valuable. We have heard from offices on the Hill that they received lots of calls and emails—your voices had an impact! So many offices heard from you, that now they are looking ahead to the Appropriations process and the importance of funding VAWA programs and VOCA in the Appropriations bills that they will pass later this year.

Your calls to the Senate were critical to set the stage for the Appropriations process. Together we met our bigger goal of raising the profile of VAWA and VOCA programs!