Protect Funding that Helps Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assualt and Child Abuse

Take Action to Help Victims of Domestic, Sexual, and Dating Violence

Your Calls Are Needed Today!

During the week of February 14^th, the House of Representatives is scheduled to consider funding levels for all federal programs, including programs important to victims of domestic and sexual violence.  Our friends in Congress tell us this is the week to act.  We need your help.   Please contact your Member of Congress and ask them to continue funding programs that protect women and children from violence and abuse.   Ree
Advocates have an opportunity NOW as the House of Representatives begins work on finalizing the FY11 bills to urge Members to preserve all Violence Against Women programs.   Now is not the time to cut services and prevention dollars to this work.   Without hearing from you, these cuts will happen.  
 

State and federal funding make up 85% of HOPE Coalition’s 2011 funding.  Over the last two MN legislative sessions, Office of Justice Program funding for programs such as HOPE Coalition has been cut by about 6.5%.  Because of one-time federal stimulus funding, OJP was able to offset those cuts for a period of time.  However, in October, HOPE Coalition and our sister programs who received state crime victim services funding will experience not only the 6.5% cut but any additional cuts made by the legislature over the coming weeks this year.  While the legislature still has many decisions to make regarding crime victims services funding, some insiders have projected additional cuts this year of between 5 and 15%.

 

How to Take Action

Call your Member of Congress this week and ask them to oppose cuts to violence against women programs!

Say:

• Your name and the city you live in.
• Please oppose cuts to violence against women programs.  Specifically, please tell them:
• No cuts to the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act, the Violence Against Women Health Initiative; and the Engaging Men and Youth in Prevention Program and theChildren Exposed to Violence program
• Maintain existing funding for other VAWA programs
• Tell her/him how programs in your community are being hurt or cannot serve victims in your communities, or why these programs are important to you.

Never called your Member of Congress before?  Don't worry, it's easy!  The Capitol Hill Switchboard is 202-224-3121.   Ask for your local House Member’s office (U.S. Representative John Kline, 2nd District - MN or U.S. Representative Ron Kind, 3rd Dirtict -WI.)  Your call will be answered by a receptionist.  Tell him or her that you want to leave a message for the Congressperson.  The receptionist will take down your message.

Your calls make a huge difference.  It's only thanks to your outreach and calls in the past that we've had such strong support for FVPSA, the Violence Against Women Health Initiative, the Engaging Men program, and Children Exposed to Violence program in the past!   We are very optimistic that we will get funding for these critical programs this year, but ONLY if you make your voices heard! 

 

Thank you for taking action to support this critical funding!