Please forward widely!

URGENT ACTION ALERT UPDATE - Monday, February 11, 2008

UPDATE - Keep the calls and letters coming! We need to urge Congress to
reject the President's Budget, fully fund VAWA and FVPSA, and raise the VOCA
Cap!

Thank you for being voices for survivors! Your calls and letters really
make a difference!

Since we sent out the alert last week, you have been very busy making phone
calls and sending letters. In just under a week there have been nearly
1,000 calls on our nationwide toll-free call-in number. (888.256.7413)

Some states have churned out more than 50 calls - while others have made no
calls through the toll-free number! (PA has made 56 calls so far--good, but
that's not even one call per program! We can do better!)

Let's make sure that each Representative and each Senator from every state
hears from their constituents - that cuts to lifesaving programs are
unacceptable!

If you've already made a call, be sure to send a letter! And forward this
email to your friends, family and co-workers!

The Background

The President's Fiscal Year 2009 Budget proposes devastating cuts to the
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Fund,
and inadequate funding for the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act
(FVPSA) - the lifeblood of core domestic violence programs. While his
budget is only the first step in the year-long appropriations process, we
must make it clear that Congress should reject the President's Budget, fully
fund VAWA and FVPSA, and raise the VOCA cap.

Scroll to the bottom of the email for more information.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Your actions RIGHT NOW are crucial in order to urge Congress to reject the
President's budget and secure needed funding for essential VAWA programs,
FVPSA and the VOCA Fund!

Join in our national VAWA, FVPSA and VOCA call-in week!

Call your Members of Congress on NNEDV's toll-free number

1.888.256.7413

To find your Senators' and Representatives' names, go to: [
http://www.senate.gov ]www.senate.gov or [ http://www.house.gov
]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
]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 [
http://www.senate.gov ]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
]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!

THE SITUATION - RECAP

The Fiscal Year 2008 budget passed by Congress in December 2007 included
staggering cuts to the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and the Victims of
Crime Act (VOCA) Fund cap. The impact is now being felt by victim service
providers across the country who have lost core funding.

Last week, 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 balance of the VOCA Fund - a $2 billion loss
that would leave us with no VOCA funds in FY '10.

If passed, the President's budget would catastrophically compound the $35
million cut to VOCA, the probable additional administrative cuts of up to
$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
]http://www.nnedv.org/docs/Policy/FY08Recap.pdf

Congress must now decide what to include in their Budget. They must reject
the President's proposal and instead increase VAWA and FVPSA and raise the
VOCA cap. Hearing from you heavily influences their decision.

There will be several more times this year when we'll have the opportunity
to influence Congress, so stay tuned!

Click here for more information on the appropriations process [
http://www.nnedv.org/docs/Policy/BudgetandAppropriationsOverview.pdf
]http://www.nnedv.org/docs/Policy/BudgetandAppropriationsOverview.pdf

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

]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!

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@...