Terri Hamrick Kessel <terri@...> wrote:
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. Please, please, please take a moment and review this information, and on March 14th, 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. Pennsylvania Thank you for your kind attention. -Terri March 14, 2008VOCA Call-In Day Pennsylvania 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 tovictims of crime. Pennsylvania This takes 1 minute of your time and the results can be invaluable.
- On Friday March 14th, Call your Senators and Congressman from the list below or through the Capitol Switch Board at (202) 224-3121.
- 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”
- 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.
- Forward this information to your staff, volunteers, community partners and even clients and ask them to call as well.
Member Name DC Phone DC FAX 202-224-4254 202-228-1229 202-224-6324 202-228-0604 202-225-4731 202-225-0088 202-225-4001 202-225-5392 202-225-5406 202-225-3103 202-225-2565 202-226-2274 202-225-5121 202-225-5796 202-225-4315 202-225-8440 202-225-2011 202-226-0280 202-225-4276 202-225-9511 202-225-2431 202-225-2486 202-225-3731 202-225-9594 202-225-6511 202-225-0764 202-225-2065 202-225-5709 202-225-6111 202-226-0611 202-225-2135 202-225-3084 202-225-6411 202-226-0778 202-225-2411 202-225-2013 202-225-5546 202-226-0996 202-225-2301 202-225-1844 202-225-5836 202-226-1000 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@survivorsservices.org Mission Statement
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.
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