Hello again!  There's an update to our Action Alert sent yesterday:  the Senate may vote on the Stimulus Bill (S.336, called the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan) as soon as MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2009.  This means we need your calls TODAY to make sure the increases for VAWA and VOCA are included in the final bill!!!

 

Since we sent our alert, Senate offices have been receiving lots of calls in support of key provisions for domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking victims.  Let’s keep up the good work to ensure that these provisions make it through the Senate!  See below for the info....

 

----- Original Message -----

 

ACTION ALERT – PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY!

 

Call your Senators today and ask them to support funding for VAWA and VOCA in the Stimulus Package!

 

We know that as economic conditions worsen, victims are left with fewer resources and the demand for lifesaving services increases. 

 

Recognizing the great need for additional funding for essential domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking programs, on Tuesday, January 27, 2009 the Senate Appropriations Committee passed S.336, an economic stimulus bill entitled the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan (NOTE: The bill started out as S.1 and is now called S.336.).

 

This bill provides the following funding for critical victim services:

• $300 million for the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), specifically for Services, Training, Officers, and Prosecution (STOP) state formula grants; out of which, $50 million will be allocated to the VAWA Transitional Housing program; and    
• $100 million for the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA).

As exciting as this news is, it is only the first step in the process.  Now we need your help to make sure the full Senate agrees to the provisions passed by the Appropriations Committee.  It is critical that these Senate provisions are protected as the bill moves toward becoming law.  Make sure that your Senators hear how important the Senate bill provisions are to victims of violence!  

The House bill passed Wednesday, January 28, does NOT provide any specific money for domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking programs.  We need to make sure that when the House and the Senate meet to create one bill, vital funding for victim services are included in the final bill. 

 

What you can do!

 

Call your Senators today and encourage them to support $300 million for the VAWA STOP program, $50 million for the VAWA Transitional Housing program, and for $100 million for the Victims of Crime Act.   WE NEED TO URGE THEM TO ENSURE THESE INCREASES STAY IN THE FINAL STIMULUS BILL PASSED!

 

ACTION REQUIRED:

 

Call 202.224.3121 to be connected to the Capitol Switchboard.  Tell them the name of your Senator and they will connect you to their office.  When you call your Senator, your call will be answered by a receptionist (often an intern).  Tell him or her:

 

“Hello, my name is ____ and I am a constituent, from [include your state and town].”

• “I urge Senator [last name] to support bill S.336, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan, which will add much needed crucial funding to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking programs, specifically $300 million for the VAWA STOP program, $50 million for the VAWA Transitional Housing program and for $100 million for the Victims of Crime Act.
• For Senator Specter, who is on the Appropriations Committee that just passed S.336 with these increases, be sure to say THANK YOU for including these crucial increases, and please ensure these increases make it into the final bill passed!

What happens next?

 

• The bill will be considered by the full Senate as soon as Monday, February 2, 2009.
• Once the Senate has passed their bill, select Members from the House and Senate will meet to negotiate on a final bill for the President to sign.  Click here for a refresher on how a bill becomes a law!   
• It is likely that the President will sign the bill into law by early to mid-February.

 

Have more questions about the Economic Stimulus bill?  Baffled by the different House and Senate bills? Confused about the difference between the Economic Stimulus and the normal Appropriations process?  Click here

 

Additional information 

 

Other funding for victims services and criminal justice in the Senate bill:

 

·        $440 million for competitive grants to improve the functioning of the criminal justice system, to assist victims of crime and youth mentoring programs;

 

·        $150 million for law enforcement in rural areas, to prevent and combat crime; and

 

·        $300 million for assistance to Indian Tribes.        

 

·    $1.5 billion for Byrne JAG

 

·        $1 billion for COPS hiring program

 

There will be other strategic times soon where will we need your voices!  Stay tuned for additional action alerts.  Please don't hestitate to CALL ME if you have any questions or need additional information.  THANK YOU for being ready to act on behalf of survivors and make those calls!!!

 

Nicole A. Lindemyer, Esq.

Policy & Special Projects Manager

Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV)

6400 Flank Drive, Suite 1300

Harrisburg, PA 17112

(717) 545-6400, ext. 205

nal@...