Greetings:

I do not usually send out mass emails of this nature, but this is critically urgent.  Attached is a PDF fact sheet delineating what VOCA is, and how it the loss of funding will impact crime victims across the state of Pennsylvania.  Please, please, please take a moment and review this information, and on March 14^th, take action according to the call to action information below.  You will be helping those who have already lost so much.  In our county, VOCA heavily funds our Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence/Stalking hotline, and funds our Legal Advocacy efforts.  It also funds activities of the Victim Witness Program Office, another essential service in our community for crime victims.

Thank you for your kind attention.

-Terri

March 14, 2008

Pennsylvania VOCA Call-In Day

Dear Colleague,

As you may have heard the President’s Budget request for 2009 proposed to transfer the balance of the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding to the General Treasury.

That means that almost $2 billion in victim assistance and compensation funding would be lost. By 2010 the VOCA fund would have zero dollars to give to states for victim services.

• VOCA is funded through criminal fines not tax payer dollars.
• VOCA helps all victims of crime.
• VOCA accounts for more than half of funding for many programs.
• Without VOCA funding many programs will have to reduce the amount of services provided, lay off staff or close their doors completely.

In order to restore the VOCA fund and increase the cap to compensate for years of cuts, we need everyone to contact their Members of Congress and let them know how valuable VOCA is to Pennsylvania victims of crime.

This takes 1 minute of your time and the results can be invaluable.

1. On Friday March 14^th, Call your Senators and Congressman from the list below or through the Capitol Switch Board at (202) 224-3121.
2. Tell the staffer: “I am a constituent from (insert your town) who works with victims of crime. In order for us to continue to help victims, we need Congressman (insert name) to save the VOCA fund and raise the balance to $1 billion. VOCA is not tax payer money and was designed to help those most in need”
3. Fax your Congressman the attached fact sheet and sample letter. Make sure to edit the letter to include information about the services your organization provides.
4. Forward this information to your staff, volunteers, community partners and even clients and ask them to call as well.

Not sure who your Representative is? Click here to find out.

Terri Hamrick Kessel, MNM
Executive Director
Survivors, Inc.
Post Office Box 3572
Gettysburg, PA  17325
(717) 334-0589 Extension 22
Facsimile (717) 334-3576
EMail:  Terri@...