Discussion List for campus-based and allied personnel working to end gender-based violence on campus.

["Irene Weiser" <>]

From: Monica McLaughlin 
[mailto:]
 
Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2007 1:52 PM
To: 

Subject: Re: [action] VICTORY AND DEFEAT FOR VAWA AND VOCA - Please forward
widely

 

Note: Added Senators Thad Cochran (R-MS) and Robert Byrd (D-WV) to the thank
you list! Thank you for forwarding this email! :) 

Please forward widely! 

 

FINAL FUNDING UPDATE - Thursday, December 20, 2007 

VICTORY AND DEFEAT:  VAWA PROGRAMS INCREASED BY $17.3 MILLION; VOCA FUND CUT
BY $35 MILLION 

 

THE SITUATION 

The House and the Senate have completed the Omnibus Appropriations Bill and
have sent it to the President, who is expected to sign it into law.
Overall, VAWA programs administered by the Department of Justice have seen a
$17.3 million increase! 




While there were clear successes for VAWA programs in the Omnibus
Appropriations Bill, we are shocked and upset to learn that the Victim of
Crime Act Fund (VOCA) has been cut by $35 million and that other core VAWA
program received cuts.  


The President's budget called for the elimination of the VOCA Fund but we
fought hard to maintain it and even to raise the VOCA cap throughout the
appropriation's process. Though many Members of Congress supported increases
to the VOCA cap, the pressure from the President to cut funding was just too
strong.  

 

The fact that we were able to save the VOCA fund from complete elimination
is a direct result of your calls.  We celebrate that victory but know that
this cut is unacceptable and we need to act! 

 

WHAT YOU CAN DO

 

Although we cannot change the outcome of the VOCA cut right now, we need to
channel our energy productively to make sure that VOCA is restored next
year.   

 

We need your voice! Look for these strategic activities in January: 

 

.         Document the impact:  We will be sending around a survey for you
to tell us how the VOCA cut impacts your programs and victims in your area.
The survey results will be used as evidence as we fight for VOCA increases.


.         Call-in: We will be organizing a call-in day for folks to discuss
the impact of the VOCA cut and discuss how we can move forward in the
future. 

.         Write a letter: We will draft a letter that you can modify and
send to your Members of Congress about the importance of VOCA funding.  

.         Talk to candidates:  We will supply you with talking points and
questions for the presidential candidates.  As they move through the
primaries, they need to know that VOCA is a significant issue for the
American public.  

 

Thank you for being ready to act in these strategic ways to ensure a stable
future for VOCA! 

 

SUCCESS - VAWA INCREASES!  

 

Many essential VAWA programs received increases, including an $8.8 million
increase for STOP Grants, a $2.6 million increase for Transitional Housing
and a $1.6 million increase for Services for Rural Victims!  New and vital
programs have been funded, including $2.8 million for Services for Children
Exposed to Domestic Violence, $2.8 million for Services for Teens, $2.8
million for Engaging Men and Youth in Prevention, and $9.4 million for the
Sexual Assault Services Program!  

We know that Congress worked for these increases under extreme pressure to
make cuts.  This is a huge victory for us!  Your calls about VAWA funding
are surely the reason behind these increases!  Please click here to see the
chart with the other increases, highlighted in black borders.
<http://nnedv.org/docs/Policy/AppropsChartFY08_Omnibus.pdf>
http://nnedv.org/docs/Policy/AppropsChartFY08_Omnibus.pdf


Additionally, many core social safety net programs, upon which victims rely,
won increases in this appropriations bill, including heat assistance
(LIHEAP), WIC, and Community Health Centers. 




CUTS TO VAWA PROGRAMS 




Although VAWA programs received an overall increase, some programs were cut.
There was a $2.1 million cut to Legal Assistance for Victims and a $3.2
million cut to Grants to Encourage Arrest.  Please click here to see the
chart with the other cuts, highlighted in dotted borders.  

 <http://nnedv.org/docs/Policy/AppropsChartFY08_Omnibus.pdf>
http://nnedv.org/docs/Policy/AppropsChartFY08_Omnibus.pdf ;

 

Labor Health and Human Services programs like the Family Violence Prevention
Services Act (FVPSA), the National Domestic Violence Hotline, and Rape
Prevention and Education received no funding increases or cuts, leaving them
the same as last year.   Each year, however, all programs have a small
percent taken off their overall budget, called a rescission.  This year the
rescission is at 1.747% which essentially cuts funding to these programs.
FVPSA will now be funded at $122.6 million (a $2.2 million cut) and the
National Domestic Violence Hotline will be funded at $2.9 million (a $52,000
cut).      

 

These programs are our priorities and we will fight for increases in the
next appropriations cycle!  

 

WHO TO THANK FOR VAWA INCREASES & PROTECTING THE VOCA FUND

 

Please thank the following Representatives and Senators (listed
alphabetically by state) who fought tirelessly for increases to VAWA
programs and to protect the VOCA cap: 

 

Representatives Lois Capps (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Michael Honda (D-CA),
Jerry Lewis (R-CA), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Loretta Sanchez (D-CA),
Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Christopher Murphy (D-CT), Ginny Brown-Waite (R-FL),
Dan Burton (R-IN), Dennis Moore (D-KS), Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ), James
Walsh (R-NY), Ted Poe (R-TX), Jay Inslee (D-WA), Dave Reichert (R-WA), Cathy
McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), David Obey (D-WI),  Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV),
and Alan Mollohan (D-WV). 

 

Senators Richard Shelby (R-AL), Joseph Biden (D-DE), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Mike
Crapo (R-ID), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Thad Cochran (R-MS), Arlen Specter
(R-PA),  and Patty Murray (D-WA) Robert Byrd (D-WV).  


THANK YOU!!! 

Thanks again for all that you do for survivors!  Thank you for making calls
and being a voice for survivors.  Your calls depict the reality of survivors
and their advocates, and are the best way to convey how VAWA and VOCA
programs save lives, rebuild families and prevent future crimes. 




Your action this year has meant so much to survivors and advocates!
Congressional staff remarked on how many calls were made about our issues -
you got them talking and thinking about domestic violence.  Our collective
work has overcome insurmountable barriers, like a Presidential budget that
reduced VAWA funding and eliminated VOCA, and a budget battle in Congress. 

 

You know that programs need more funding to meet the needs of survivors and
you fought for those increases!  Your work this year has been amazing!
Let's celebrate our accomplishments and get ready to fight next year!
Thanks! 


For more information, contact Monica McLaughlin, National Network to End
Domestic Violence, at 

 or 202-543-5566.   

 

Check out this link for more information on the budget and appropriations
process:  http://www.nnedv.org/pdf/BudgetandAppropriationsOverview.pdf

 

 

 

  _____  

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