Activists Celebrate the Violence Against Women Office Becoming Free-Standing; Note VAWA Programs Are Still Being Shortchanged

April 4, 2003

by NOW Staff

Activist Victory: Your letters and emails helped us keep the Violence Against Women Office a free-standing entity within the Department of Justice! Read Sen. Biden's press release.

Violence Against Women Act Funding: In the Department of Health and Human Services budget for 2003, the battered women's shelter and services program remains $47.7 million below its authorized level of $175 million. The President's 2004 budget cuts this program even further, from $127.2 million to $124.4 million. This $2.8 million cut in the President's budget is unacceptable, because these critically needed services are already dramatically underfunded. Not only should Congress restore this $2.8 million, it should act now to fully fund this program at its authorized level. (The Department of Justice's anti-violence programs also face a $4.1 million shortfall out of a $390 million per year program.)

Congress should:

• Fully fund the battered women's shelter and services program at its authorized level of $175 million in the 2004 appropriations bill currently being discussed and formulated;

• Restore the $4.1 million shortfall in the Department of Justice's total anti-violence funds;

• Address the Violence Against Women Act of 2000's authorization of transitional housing programs for people and families fleeing violence. These important programs have never been funded and it is imperative that they actually receive the $25 million authorized through Health and Human Services.

Join the 1% Campaign to end sexual and domestic violence: 1% buttons are available at the NOW online store. Advocates are encouraged to wear them to demand that 1% of the U.S. defense budget be directed toward preventing violence against women. For more information on the 1% campaign, a project coordinated by V-Day and NOW, go to V-Day:1% Campaign.