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to those we serve.
Terri Hamrick Kessel, MNM
Executive Director
Survivors, Inc.
Post Office Box 3572
(717) 334-0589 Extension 22
Facsimile (717) 334-3576
EMail: Terri@...
Survivors supports those who experience domestic
violence or sexual assault and strives to create a world in which violence
against women and children is unthinkable.
-----Original Message-----
From: policy@... [mailto:policy@...] On Behalf Of Nicole
A. Lindemyer
Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2008 9:54 AM
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: Urgent Action Alert: STOP CUTS TO VAWA & VOCA!!!
This message is from the PCADV Policy Contacts List
Please forward widely!
URGENT ACTION ALERT – Wednesday, February 6,
2008
PRESIDENT’S PROPOSED FY ‘09 BUDGET WOULD
HARM VICTIMS!!
DEVASTATING CUTS TO THE FY ‘08 BUDGET ARE
ALREADY FORCING PROGRAMS TO TURN VICTIMS AWAY!!
TAKE ACTION NOW TO SAVE LIVES BY INCREASING VAWA &
FVPSA FUNDING AND RAISING THE VOCA CAP!!
THE SITUATION
The Fiscal Year (FY) ‘08 budget passed by
Congress in December 2007 included staggering cuts ($35 million!) to the
Victims of Crime Act Fund (VOCA). The impact is now being felt by victim
service providers across the country who have lost core funding.
Monday, the President announced his FY ‘09
Federal Budget. If enacted it would be devastating for victims of domestic
violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.
It proposes:
* A decimating $120 million cut from the Violence
Against Women Act (VAWA);
* Maintaining $122.6 million for the Family
Violence Prevention Services and Act (FVPSA)--$52.4 million less than its
authorized amount;
* Institutionalizing FY ‘08’s
devastating $35 million cut to the Victims of Crime Act (V0CA) Fund cap; and
* The ELIMINATION of the VOCA Fund – a $2
billion loss!
If passed, the President’s budget would
catastrophically compound the $35 million cut to VOCA, the probable additional
administrative cuts of $41.3 million to VOCA, and the cuts to VAWA and FVPSA.
The President’s proposal would further endanger victims’ lives
since the current budget cuts are
already forcing programs to scramble to continue to be
lifelines for millions of victims across this country.
Learn more about the cuts here:
http://www.nnedv.org/docs/Policy/FY08Recap.pdf
WHAT YOU CAN DO
The President’s budget is only the first step in
the appropriations process.
Your actions RIGHT NOW are crucial in order to secure
needed funding for essential VAWA programs, FVPSA, and the VOCA Fund.
Learn more about the appropriations process here:
http://www.nnedv.org/pdf/BudgetandAppropriationsOverview.pdf
Join in our national VAWA, FVPSA, and VOCA call-in
week starting today!
Call your Members of Congress on NNEDV’s
toll-free number
1.888.256.7413
To find your Senators and Representatives names, go
to: www.senate.gov or www.house.gov
Call the toll-free number and ask for your member of
Congress. Tell your Member of Congress:
* “Hello, my name is ____ and I am a
constituent, from (include your state and town or zip____).”
* “In the Fiscal Year ‘09
Congressional Budget, I urge you to:
-- Fully fund the Violence Against Women
Act and the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act;
-- Raise the Victims of Crime Act Fund
Cap to $717 million; and
-- Protect the Victims of Crime Act from
elimination.”
* “Thank you.”
Passionate advocates making phones ring off the hook
in the Capitol will send a clear message to our Congress: You must fulfill the
promises of VAWA, FVPSA, and VOCA!
Never called your Senators or Representatives before?
Don't worry, it's easy!
Call 1-888-256-7413 to be connected to the Capitol
Switchboard. Tell them the name of your Senator/Representative and they will
connect you to their office. When you call your Senator or Representative,
your call will be answered by a receptionist (often an intern). Tell him or her
that you want
to leave a message for the Senator or Representative.
The receptionist will take down your message. Be sure to speak slowly and
clearly so they can write down your message.
Send Your Senators and Representatives a Letter
Personalize and send (fax or email) the letter below
to your Senators and Representatives. Let’s make sure our Members of
Congress know that VAWA, FVPSA, and VOCA save lives!
Sample Letter:
http://www.nnedv.org/docs/Policy/SampleLetter-LocalPrograms-FY09.doc
The more personal and descriptive you can be in these
letters, the better. Members of Congress are interested in learning about how
these federal dollars impact their local constituents. The letter is designed
for local programs and should be printed on organizational letterhead. If you
are an
individual, simply delete references to
"programs" and talk about why this issue is important to you and your
community.
Find email and fax information for your Members of
Congress through www.senate.gov or www.house.gov
Wondering whether you can lobby? Read this one-page
fact sheet: http://www.nnedv.org/docs/Policy/Lobbying_NonprofitStatus.pdf
Forward This Email
Send this email to your friends, family, and
colleagues and encourage them to call. We need as many people as possible to
contact Congress this week!
THANK YOU FOR ACTING RIGHT NOW TO SAVE LIVES!
THANK YOU! YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
Your calls and actions in 2007 helped secure a
remarkable $17.3 million increase in VAWA programs and saved the VOCA Fund from
elimination! Click here to see the increases in VAWA for FY ‘08
http://www.nnedv.org/docs/Policy/AppropsChartFY08_Omnibus.pdf
Your calls and letters depict the reality of survivors
and their advocates, and are the best way to convey how VAWA, FVPSA, and VOCA
programs save lives, rebuild families, and prevent future crimes.
Congressional staff count every call and letter -- your voice will be heard!
Thank you for being a
voice for survivors!
For more information, contact Nicole Lindemyer, PCADV
Policy and Special Projects Manager, at nal@....
Nicole A. Lindemyer, Esq.
Policy & Special Projects Manager
(717) 545-6400, ext. 205
nal@...
Nicole A. Lindemyer, Esq.
Policy & Special Projects Manager
(717) 545-6400, ext. 205
nal@...
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