Take action today to support full funding for the Sexual Assault Services Program!

 

As promised, here is the first action you can take this appropriations season to get more funding for sexual assault services in your community.

 

A Dear Colleague letter is being circulated in the House of Representatives (see below) by Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) that supports full finding for the Sexual Assault Services Program (SASP) in FY 2009.

 

We need your help!

 

Please call your Member of the House of Representatives TODAY to request that he/she sign-on to the SASP Dear Colleague letter.

 

The deadline to sign-on is FRIDAY, MARCH 7^th. When you call:

• Tell the receptionist that you are a constituent and ask for the staff person who handles violence against women issues.
• Tell the staffer that you are a constituent, including your name and where your program is located.
• Tell them you are calling to urge your Congressperson to sign the Dear Colleague being circulated by Reps. Baldwin and Poe that supports full funding for the Sexual Assault Services program.
• Explain why you need SASP funding because <<include brief information on why sexual assault programs in your community need additional resources – particularly victims not being served due to lack of funds.>>
• Ask them to please sign the Baldwin/Poe Dear Colleague so we can continue to effectively serve men, women, and children who are victims of sexual assault in <<your community>>
• The staffer can contact Amber Shipley (Rep. Baldwin – 225-2906; amber.shipley@mail.house.gov) or Gina Santucci (Rep. Poe – 225-6565; gina.santucci@mail.house.gov) to sign-on to the SASP Dear Colleague or with questions.

 

 

 

Please contact Ellen (efern@wpllc.net) or Ana (aottman@wpllc.net) or 202-289-3900 with any questions.

 

 

February 19.2008

 

Dear Colleague:

 

Please join us in supporting direct services for sexual assault survivors by signing onto the attached letter to Chairman Mollohan and Ranking Member Frelinghuysen of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies.

 

As you know, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) was reauthorized and signed into law by President Bush on January 5,2006. This act aimed to reach and serve more sexual assault survivors by authorizing the Sexual Assault Services Program (SASP). SASP creates a desperately needed federal funding stream for direct services, which will assure rape crisis centers have the resources to continue providing vital services to all victims of sexual violence.

 

According to findings from the 2006 National Violence Against Women Survey, I of every 6 women has been raped in her lifetime, and 1 of every 33 men. More than 700 women and girls are raped or sexually assaulted each day, and young people ages 16-24 are raped and sexually assaulted at rates higher than any other age group. While rape crisis centers and other organizations have made tremendous progress towards ensuring that sexual assault victims receive the services they need, these agencies' ability to serve the needs of all victims of sexual violence - both female and male, young and old - has historically been hampered by a significant lack of resources. And now, more victims of sexual assault are coming forward for help than ever before.

 

The Sexual Assault Services Program not only provides funds for service providers, but it also makes available resources to state, territory and tribal sexual assault coalitions who work to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of local programs. Funding is also directed to Native American tribes as well as culturally-specific organizations to better reach and serve victims in communities that have been historically underserved.

 

We sincerely hope that you will join us in supporting an increase in funding for the Sexual Assault Services Program for FY 2009 so these victims can receive the services and support they need as they navigate the medical, criminal justice and social support systems. To sign onto this letter, please contact Amber Shipley (Rep. Baldwin) at 5-2906 or amber.shipley@mail.house.gov or Gina Santucci (Rep. Poe) at 5-6565 or gina.santucci@,mail.house.gov.

 

Sincerely,

 

/s/                                                                                             /s/

 

Tammy Baldwin                                                                        Ted Poe

Member of Congress                                                                  Member of Congress

 

 

 

 

---

 

 

February XX, 2008

 

 

The Honorable Alan Mollohan, Chairman          The Honorable Rodney Frelinghuysen, Ranking Member          

House Appropriations Committee                     House Appropriations Committee        

Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice,               Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice,

   Science, and Related Agencies                          Science, and Related Agencies

H-310 Capitol Building                                     1016 Longworth House Office Building

Washington, DC  20515                                   Washington, DC 20515

 

 

Dear Chairman Mollohan and Ranking Member Frehlinghuysen:

 

As you know the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) was reauthorized and signed into law by President Bush on January 5, 2006.  VAWA 2005 reauthorized lifesaving programs that have been at the core of our community’s response to domestic and sexual violence for over a decade.  It also expanded these programs to include victims of sexual assault by authorizing the Sexual Assault Service Program (SASP) which creates a desperately needed federal funding stream for direct services, which will assure rape crisis centers have the necessary funds to continue providing vital services to all victims of sexual violence.  We write to request your support for implementing the goals of SASP by increasing funding this program which Congress funded for the first time in Fiscal Year 2008.

 

According to the 2006 National Violence Against Women Survey, 1 of every 6 women has been raped in her lifetime, and 1 of every 33 men.  While rape crisis centers and other organizations have made tremendous progress towards ensuring that sexual assault victims receive the services they need, these agencies’ ability to serve the needs of all victims of sexual violence – both female and male, young and old – has historically been hampered by a significant lack of resources.  And now, more victims of sexual assault are coming forward for help than ever before.

 

The Sexual Assault Services Program not only provides funds for service providers, but it also makes available resources to state, territory and tribal sexual assault coalitions who work to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of local programs.  Funding is also directed to Native American tribes as well as culturally-specific organizations to better reach and serve victims in communities that have been historically underserved. 

 

We do appreciate the difficult budget situation that faces Congress this year; however, more than 700 women and girls are raped or sexually assaulted each day, and young people ages 16-24 are raped and sexually assaulted at rates higher than any other age group.  We sincerely hope that you will support increasing funding for the Sexual Assault Services Program for FY 2009 so these victims can receive the services and support they need as they navigate the medical, criminal justice and social support systems.

 

 

Sincerely,