CALL CONGRESS TODAY IN SUPPORT OF FULL FUNDING FOR SASP

FOR FISCAL YEAR 2009

 

ONLY 12 HOUSE MEMBERS HAVE SIGNED THE SASP DEAR COLLEAGUE!

PLEASE FORWARD THIS LETTER TO ALL YOUR MEMBER CENTERS AND ASK THEM TO MAKE CALLS

 

Please call your Representative TODAY!  The following 12 House members have signed the SASP Dear Colleague! 

 

In Fiscal Year 2007 we had close to 100!  The deadline is this Friday, March 7^th. 

 

Here are the Members who have signed on:

 

1. Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
2. Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX)
3. Rep. Leonard Boswell (D-IA)
4. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II (D-MO)
5. Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA)
6. Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN)
7. Rep. Luis Fortuno (R-PR)
8. Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ)
9. Rep. James Langevin (D-RI)
10. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)
11. Rep. Michael Michaud (D-ME)
12. Rep. Dennis Moore (D-KS)

 

The full funding for SASP letter is being circulated by Reps. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Ted Poe (R-TX) – see below.  Rep. Baldwin has been the lead Democratic for the last three years on this same letter.  This year, we have a new Republican lead on this letter.  Your work last year on getting members to sign this letter was stupendous and we need that same kind of effort. Congress has begun earnest work on the FY 2009 budget and thus we need these signatures now more than ever.  

 

We need your help.  The deadline for getting signatures on these letters is Friday, March 7^th. Please call Members of the House of Representatives and tell them:

 

• Your name and where your program and services are located.  Tell them you are calling today to urge the Congressperson to sign the Dear Colleague letter being circulated by Reps. Baldwin and Poe supporting full funding for the Sexual Assault Services program.   
• We need this funding so that <<include information on why local sexual assault programs in your state and community NEED additional resources. Talk about programs and victims served and victims NOT being served due to lack of funds).
• Last year’s letters made a huge difference as the House and Senate did include $10 million for the program in FY 2008.
• Please sign the Baldwin/Poe Dear Colleague so we can continue to increase funds for rape crisis centers who serve all victims of sexual assault – men, woman and children.
• Contact Amber Shipley in Rep. Baldwin’s (D-WI) office or Gina Santucci in Rep. Poe’s (R-TX) office.

 

 

If you don’t know how to reach your representative go to www.house.gov or call the Capitol switchboard at 202.224.3121, and they will connect you.

 

Found below and attached are copies of both Dear Colleagues.

 

As always please let me know if you have any questions. Ellen and Ana (202) 289.3900; efern@wpllc.net; aottman@wpllc.net

 

 

 

Support Funding of Services for Sexual Assault Survivors

 

 

March 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,