Please Forward Widely

 

Update

As you know, the President signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 into law on Tuesday, February 17th.  Once again, thank you so much for all your calls and advocacy efforts to secure key provisions for victim services in the final Economic Recovery Bill!  This would not have been possible without you!

The final bill includes:

 

- $175 million for the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Services, Training, Officers, Prosecutors (STOP) state formula grant program;

- $50 million for VAWA Transitional Housing program; and

- $100 for the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA).

 

Final Steps – Thank your Members of Congress!

Now, we need to thank the Members of Congress for their support and leadership in passing this important bill and including this critical provisions.  When we take the extra step to thank Members of Congress for their hard work and support, they know how important these programs are to their constituents.

 

(For us in PA, it is especially important to thank Senator Specter, who was key to the negotiations in the Senate.)

 

At the end of this message is a list of PA Members of Congress who voted yes on the stimulus bill, as well as their contact numbers.

 

Please take just a few minutes and call your Senators and Members of Congress.  Your call will likely be answered by a receptionist.  Tell her or him:

 

- "Hello, my name is ____ and I am a constituent, from [include your city and state]."

 

- "I an calling to thank Senator/Representative [last name] for voting yes on the American Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  This bill will provide vital funding to hire and train victim advocates and law enforcement who protect and support victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking."

 

- "Thank you."

 

If you prefer to take the time to fax them a letter, here is a sample thank you letter to your Member you can modify: www.nnedv.org/docs/Policy/localprogramstimulusty.doc

 

NOTE:  The stimulus bill is only the first of many lobbying efforts we'll be working on (the FY09 budget is up next!), so building relationships now is important!  If you haven't had your U.S. Senators and Representatives out to your program in a while, invite them to come for a visit and see how those federal funds translate to services for victims in their district!

 

Once again, THANK YOU for being voices for survivors!  Your calls and letters really do make a difference! 

 

PA Representative Jason Altmire, Tel. (202) 225-2565, Fax (202) 226-2274

PA Representative Robert Brady, Tel. (202) 225-4731, Fax (202) 225-0088

PA Representative Christopher Carney, Tel. (202) 225-3731, Fax (202) 225-9594

PA Representative Kathleen Dahlkemper, Tel. (202) 225-5406, Fax (202) 225-3103

PA Representative Mike Doyle, Tel. (202) 225-2135, Fax (202) 225-3084

PA Representative Chaka Fattah, Tel. (202) 225-4001, Fax (202) 225-5392

PA Representative Tim Holden, Tel. (202) 225-5546, Fax (202) 226-0996

PA Representative Paul Kanjorski, Tel. (202) 225-6511, Fax (202) 225-0764

PA Representative Patrick Murphy, Tel. (202) 225-4276, Fax (202) 225-9511

PA Representative John Murtha, Tel. (202) 225-2065, Fax (202) 225-5709

PA Representative Allyson Schwartz, Tel. (202) 225-6111, Fax (202) 226-0611

PA Representative Joseph Sestak, Tel. (202) 225-2011, Fax (202) 226-0280

PA Senator Robert Casey, Tel. (202) 224-6324, Fax (202) 228-0604

PA Senator Arlen Specter, Tel. (202) 224-4254, Fax (202) 228-1229

 

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@...