[NOW Action List] Call Senators Today to Restore VAWA & VOCA Funding

Support NOW's Work |	March 15, 2006	| Tell a Friend

Action Needed Background All NOW Actions More about NOW's work on Violence Against Women		Call Senators Today to Restore VAWA & VOCA Funding Today, Thursday March 16, the Senate will vote on two amendments to the budget resolution. Please call and support these amendments that restore VAWA's authorized funding to prevent violence against women and keep the President from raiding the VOCA Fund for victims of violence. Action Needed: Contact your Senators via the Capitol Switchboard (202-224-3121) or find their local contact information, and ask them to support the Clinton amendment on VAWA and the Leahy amendment on VOCA. Our coalition partners at the National Network to End Domestic Violence have written the following alert. There isn't time for emails, so please pick up the phone and call your Senators' offices. This must not be a partisan issue. Background: Today, Thursday March 16, two amendments will be offered to the Federal Budget Resolution that, if those amendments are passed, would increase the funds available for VAWA programs and protect the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Fund. The Senate is voting on the budget tomorrow night. Congress unanimously passed VAWA 2005 last year, reauthorizing proven services and creating new lifesaving programs that address domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Although Congress approved these programs by passing VAWA 2005, they must still provide funding for them through the annual Budget and Appropriations process. The Congressional Budget sets the total amount of funds available for Federal programs. Later in the year, the Appropriations process divides that funding among the various Federal programs. Today the Senate will vote on the Budget Resolution, which determines the amount that the Congressional Appropriations Committee will have available to spend later this year. It is crucial that the Appropriations Committee have enough money to fully fund VAWA programs. FULL FUNDING for ALL NEW and EXISTING VAWA PROGRAMS is a crucial investment in our communities, one that saves both lives and money. The Victims of Crime Act Fund, made up of fines and penalties on federal offenders rather than taxpayer dollars, is a key funding source for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and all other crimes. More than 4,000 local agencies from all 50 states depend on VOCA assistance grants to serve over 3 million crime victims each year. The President's Budget request proposes removing the entire balance of the VOCA Fund, endangering support for critical victims' services in the future. VOCA MUST BE PROTECTED so that services for victims of crime are not devastated. Please call your Senators immediately and ask them to vote YES on Senator Clinton's VAWA Amendment and Senator Leahy's Crime Victims Fund Amendment to the Budget. Tell your Senators: The city and state from which you are calling. "Please VOTE YES on the Clinton VAWA amendment and the Leahy Crime Victims Fund amendment to the Budget." "These amendments will enable sufficient funding for lifesaving VAWA programs and will protect the VOCA Fund, a critical non-taxpayer-funded resource for victims of crime." If you have time, tell them why your city or state needs funding for VAWA programs and VOCA. Talk about increased demand for services and unmet needs OR share successes from VAWA or VOCA funded programs. To contact your Senators, call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 or find their contact information online.
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