Recently, the Ms. Foundation for Women released a report, “Efforts to Address Gender-Based Violence: A Look at Foundation Funding”, addressing how funding currently looks for programs addressing gender based violence. The report is a compilation of information regarding how many U.S. Foundations provide funding for agencies addressing gender-based violence as well as how foundation funding has increased significantly throughout the years.

Via BayNet.com

Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Subcommittee Chairwoman, Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.) today announced a critical step forward in putting $418.5 million in funding for programs administered by the Department of Justice’s Violence Against Women Office in the federal checkbook.

These funds are included in the CJS Appropriations Bill, which was approved on Sunday, Dec. 13 by the Senate for a final time as part of Congress’ Fiscal Year 2010 Consolidated Appropriations Bill. It now goes to the President to be signed into law.

“When we fought for the Violence Against Women Act, it was not an unfunded mandate. I led the fight to put these programs in the federal law books, and I will continue to fight to put the funding they need in the federal checkbook,” Chairwoman Mikulski said. “I have absolutely no tolerance for domestic violence. That’s why I strongly support legislation and grant programs that help protect women and their families from continued violence and abuse, and gives them the tools they need to rebuild their lives.”

This funding will support programs authorized through the VAWA, which Senator Mikulski helped pass into law. Six additional VAWA programs are administered by the Office of Justice Programs and funded at the same level as fiscal year 2009.  This brings the total funding in fiscal year 2010 for VAWA programs to a record $444.5 million, a $29.5 million increase over last year.

Domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking are crimes of epidemic proportions, exacting terrible costs on individual lives and our communities. Twenty-five percent of U.S. women report that they have been physically assaulted by an intimate partner during their lifetimes, one in six have been the victims of attempted or completed rape. The cost of domestic violence exceeds $5.8 billion each year.

The CJS bill funds multiple competitive grant programs that support training for police officers and prosecutors; state domestic violence and sexual assault coalition grants; rape prevention programs; national domestic violence hotlines; grants for battered women’s shelters and transitional housing support services; victims of child abuse grants; and funding for counselors of rape victims during trials.

STATEMENT BY VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN ON THE 10^th ANNIVERSARY OF THE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

November 25, 2009

“Violence against women is found in every culture around the world. It is one of our most pervasive global problems, yet it is preventable.  When gang rape is a weapon of war, when women are beaten behind closed doors, or when young girls are trafficked in brothels and fields – we all suffer. This violence robs women and girls of their full potential, causes untold human suffering, and has great social and economic costs.  On this 10^th anniversary of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, I urge all Americans to join with the international community in calling for an end to these abuses.”

Fifteen years ago, the U.S. government recognized the urgent need to pass the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) as a legislative means of combating violence against women and families. With the historic legislation came the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) at the Department of Justice which focuses on overseeing the government’s efforts in ending gender-based violence.  VAWA and OVW are part of the world wide campaign to end violence against women and families.

On December 17, 1999, the United Nations designated November 25th as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.  As the United Nations reminds us, the day serves to encourage “governments, international organizations and NGOs to organize activities designed to raise public awareness of the problem on that day.  Women’s activists have marked 25 November as a day against violence since 1981.  This date came from the brutal assassination in 1960, of the three Mirabal sisters, political activists in the Dominican Republic, on orders of Dominican ruler Rafael Trujillo (1930-1961).”

VAW UN Fact Sheet

For more information on global gender-based violence, visit the United Nations.

CALCASA is proud to be hosting the 2010 National Sexual Assault Conference in Los Angeles. To get announcements, registration information and other updates, CALCASA is proud to be hosting the 2010 National Sexual Assault Conference in Los Angeles click here.

Legislation introduced by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) has cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee and is headed for the full Senate. The proposed legislation protects funds for programs that assist victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Crapo and Leahy sponsored the Crime Victims Fund Preservation Act to protect essential services to victims under the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA).

The VOCA law established a dedicated fund comprised of criminal fines and penalties collected that has become a key source of support for local violence and assault response programs. But Crapo noted those funds have come under fire almost every year as Congress redirects these “dedicated” funds from the intended recipients to other unrelated federal programs. The Crapo-Leahy bill would rededicate these funds back to victim support programs.

Continue reading the press release here.

from Rep Delahunt’s office

Last week, U.S. Rep. Bill Delahunt (D-MA) announced that the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight will hold a hearing on Wednesday October 21 to examine international violence against women. Delahunt said:

Violence against women is on the rise around the world. It is time to examine what the Congress, the Obama Administration and United Nations (UN) can do to stem this growing tide of violence.

The World Health Organization has found that violence against women is widespread and has far-reaching health consequences. A recent reported called on “governments to take concerted action and makes recommendations for the health, education and criminal justice sectors to take the problem seriously.”

At Wednesday’s hearing, the panel expects to hear from Actress Nicole Kidman, the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) Goodwill Ambassador, Breakthrough Founder and Executive Director, Mallika Dutt, U.S. State Department Ambassador-at-large for Global Women’s Issues, Melanne Verveer, and Co-chair of the Women’s Caucus, U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL).

info from OVW

Last week, the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) released two new publications. One of the publications, Female Victims of Violence, discussed “current finding on nonfatal and fatal violent crimes committed against females.”

The second publication, Crimes Against People with Disabilities, is the “first national study that presents findings about nonfatal violent and property crime experienced by persons with disabilities.”

from the Office on Violence Against Women

Last week, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate Judge Susan B. Carbon to be the next Director of the Office on Violence Against Women.

Susan Carbon, first appointed to the bench in 1991, has been a Supervisory Judge of the New Hampshire Judicial Branch Family Division since 1996.  Judge Carbon has made many contributions to our collective work, including serving as faculty for the National Judicial Institute on Domestic Violence.

A message from Catherine Pierce, OVW’s Acting Director

Fifteen years ago, we saw the result of the hard work of dedicated advocates throughout the nation, when landmark legislation, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), was signed into law on September 13, 1994.

Today, President Barack Obama commemorated the 15th anniversary of this historic law in a Presidential Proclamation:

“Far too many women in our communities and neighborhoods, and across the world, continue to suffer from violence.  Inspired by the promise and achievement of the Violence Against Women Act, our Nation stands united in its determination to end these crimes and help those in need.  NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim the Fifteenth Anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act. I call upon men and women of all ages, communities, organizations, and all levels of government, to work in collaboration to end violence against women.”

Without a doubt, VAWA would never have happened without the steadfast commitment and work of the countless advocates, coalitions and community partners who worked tirelessly for this landmark legislation, and without the dedication of our Vice President, then-U.S. Senator Joe Biden, and U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch.

The VAWA recognized the severity of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking and provided federal funding to help communities in their efforts to address the needs of survivors and hold offenders accountable.  In marking this historic moment, I encourage you to reflect on where we were before, before the VAWA, and where we are now.

Thirty years ago, when a law enforcement officer responded to domestic abuse, it was considered a “family matter.”  Spousal rape was not a crime.  Many States did not have domestic violence shelters, rape crisis centers, or hotlines.

Thirty years ago, programs for culturally and linguistically specific groups were unheard of.  Disabled women and women in later in life were not thought to be vulnerable to abuse.  We had little understanding of the dynamics of teen relationships and the potential for sexual assault and intimate partner violence.  We did not recognize the co-occurrence of child maltreatment, and sexual and domestic violence nor did we understand the devastating impact of early victimization and exposure to violence.

But thirty years ago, a diverse group of advocates organized to change the way our nation thought about and responded to violence against women.  It became safer for survivors to talk to one another and speak about their struggles with the justice system.  Survivors and advocates talked to legislators, educated policy makers, and changed the way our nation viewed and responded to violence against women.  They stressed the necessity for treating domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking as crimes, for federal legislation that would support local efforts throughout the country, and vastly change the way we as a nation responded to survivors and offenders.

It took another 15 years to enact the VAWA, but since then countless lives have been saved, the voices of survivors have been heard, and families have been protected. Practitioners in the criminal justice system better understand the complex responses needed to address domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.

Today we invite partners on the front lines of the movement —advocates, law enforcement, prosecutors, the judiciary, and survivors—to join us in commemorating, not only 15 years of the Violence Against Women Act, but also the many years of partnership that brings us to where we are today.

In recognition of the 15th anniversary of the VAWA, OVW announces the beginning of a year-long effort to raise public awareness, to build stronger coalitions among federal, state, local and tribal communities, and to redouble our efforts to end domestic and dating violence, sexual assault and stalking for men, women and children across the country.

I call upon all of you to continue to innovate and collaborate with the same resolute spirit of the movement we witnessed fifteen and thirty years ago.  Together we will keep women and girls safe, and find lasting community-based solutions to end violence against women and girls.

You may view additional information about OVW’s plans to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act on our website. The Department of Justice and the Office on Violence Against Women mark this anniversary with a renewed sense of dedication.  Please join us.

Earlier this week, the Huffington Post, posted a story about rape victims who have been required to pay for evidence collection.

When a woman is raped, police turn to scientific evidence-semen, blood and tissue samples-to identify her attacker. The evidence is collected through a medical exam of the victim, who is not supposed to pay for this crime-solving process.

But 15 years after Congress passed a law to ensure that rape victims would never see a bill, loopholes and bureaucratic tangles still leave some victims paying for hospital expenses and exams, which can cost up to $1,200.

Click here to read the full article.

Information from the White House Press Office

Vice President Biden, the author of the landmark Violence Against Women Act, announced today the appointment of Lynn Rosenthal as the new White House Advisor on Violence Against Women.

Ms. Rosenthal is one of the nation’s foremost experts in domestic violence policy, and has worked at the local, state and national levels to create an environment where violence against women is not ignored and perpetrators are held accountable. This is a newly created position at the White House, dedicated specifically to advising the President and Vice President on domestic violence and sexual assault issues.

Read the full press release by clicking here and the article from the Washington Post.

Week of June 22nd

CALCASA Budget Update

Last week CALCASA held a mid-session legislative/budget update. Some members expressed interest in reading additional materials so we’ve included them here. Click here to download a pdf of CALCASA’s Mid-Session Update.

Here’s a story from the LA Times regarding the County’s decision to stop processing the rape kit backlog.

Here is the Legislative Analysts Office Conference Committee Budget Proposal Summary.

Don’t forget to review CALCASA’s bill tracking list.

Friday Legislative Update

Click here to read a summary of what happened last week with bills that the CALCASA is tracking through the state legislature. The list includes bills that CALCASA is sponsoring and supporting.

Update on Sexual Assault Service Program (SASP) Funding

The Senate Appropriations Committee past its FY 2010 appropriations bill for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, NASA, the National Science Foundation and several independent agencies. Overall, the bill totals $64.9 billion in discretionary spending for FY 2010, an increase of about $7.3 billion over last year and $200 million above the President’s budget request.

Click here to continue reading.

National Prison Rape Elimination Commission Releases Report

The California Coalition Against Sexual Assault applauds the release of the first-ever binding national standards aimed at preventing and addressing sexual abuse in U.S. corrections facilities. Developed by the National Prison Rape Elimination Commission, in close collaboration with Just Detention International, these standards represent a milestone in the effort to end sexual violence in detention. Attorney General Eric Holder now has one year to encode the standards as part of federal regulations.

CALCASA is a signatory of the “Call for Change,” sponsored by Just Detention International.

You can download the report by clicking here.

Strip Search of Student was Illegal, Top Court Says

Last week the Supreme Court ruled that a “school’s strip search of an Arizona teenage girl accused of having prescription-strength ibuprofen was illegal. In an 8-1 ruling, the justices said school officials violated the law with their search of Savana Redding in the rural eastern Arizona town of Safford.”

CNN: “Sexual assaults on the high seas come under scrutiny”

Earlier this week, CNN reported on the high rates of sexual assault on cruise ships and the difficulty in reporting and prosecuting sex crimes.

The story also discussed the introduction of the “2009 Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act, which requires the cruise industry to publicly report crimes and improve safety on board. It mandates peepholes and security latches in cabins. This week, several victims of cruise crimes will meet with senators to discuss the issue.”

Click here to continue reading.

Sacramento Bee: California lawmaker arranges improper deal on parolees

Andy Furillo, a journalist with the Sacramento Bee, reported this morning that Senator Runner “a California lawmaker arranged an improper deal with state corrections officials to stop an influx of parolees into his district 10 months before voters approved ‘Jessica’s Law,’ the 2006 ballot measure he wrote to restrict where paroled sex offenders could live.”

from the NSVRC

Today, the House will begin consideration on funding for VAWA programs under the jurisdiction of the FY2010 Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) Appropriations Act. Thus far, the House Appropriations Committee Members have been responsive to our calls for increased funding for VAWA programs by supporting an $11 million increase over the President’s FY2010 budget request for STOP and SASP.

Thanks to ongoing advocacy efforts, several members of Congress have offered to submit Amendments that would provide increased funding to help meet the dire need for services nationwide.

Today we need you to call every House Member in your Congressional Delegation and ask them to support three critical amendments offered by Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-WI) and Congressman Ted Poe (R-TX); Congressman Dave Reichert (R-WA) and J. Gresham Barrett (R-SC). The amendments would do the following:

• Moore/Poe Amendment: This amendment would increase funding for Civil Legal Assistance for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking by $4 million (from $37 million to $41 million).
• Reichert Amendment: This amendment would provide funding for the 1st time to the STEP program at $5 million. The STEP program provides prevention and early intervention services for middle school and high school students regarding domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking.
• Gresham Barrett Amendment: This amendment would ban earmarks from raiding the Grants to Combat Violence Against Women account, thereby safeguarding funding for the essential STOP grants and Transitional Housing program.

Urge Your House Congressional Delegation to Vote YES on the Moore/Poe, Reichert, and Barrett Amendments!

Take Action Now!

As Congress goes to work on the FY 2010 Appropriations process it is essential that we elevate the voices of sexual assault and domestic violence victims on Capitol Hill. While the Budget and the Judiciary Committees have demonstrated their commitment to supporting full funding of VAWA CJS programs at the authorized level of $683 million, the Appropriations Committee has yet to provide full funding! These amendments get us closer to attaining full funding for VAWA CJS programs and providing all victims with critical services.

Never called a Member of Congress before? Don’t worry, it’s easy!

Call 1-866-305-9428 toll free to be connected to the Capitol Switchboard. Tell them the name of your Representative and they will connect you to their office. Your call will be answered by a receptionist. Tell him or her:

• Hello, my name is ____ and I am a constituent, from [include your state and town or zip].
• I urge Representative [last name] to vote YES on the Moore/Poe Amendment, Reichert Amendment, and Barrett Amendment.
• These Amendments will provide increased funding to help meet the dire need for victim services nationwide.
• Thank you.

Outlook and Next Steps

We expect that the House to vote on amendments throughout the week and finalize their work on the CJS spending measure by Thursday, June 18th. Once the House completes work on the CJS bill, the Senate will begin consideration of their version as early as next week. Stay tuned for updates.

Additional Information

Click here for more information on funding on VAWA funding.

Week of June 8th

Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on the Violence Against Women Act

ABC News reported last week that, “it’s been 15 years since the Violence Against Women Act was first signed into law by then President Bill Clinton – strengthening laws protecting victims of domestic and sexual assault. Several women testified on Tuesday about the continuing importance of the bill to the Senate Judiciary Committee.”

Actress Gabrielle Union shared her own personal story and discussed the Violence Against Women Act, during her testimony. Union said:

Click here to continue reading.

JDI Secures Crisis Counseling for Prisoner Rape Survivors in California

Just Detention International (JDI) has been working closely with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and rape crisis centers throughout California to create a network of counseling for inmates.

JDI indicated in their recent newsletter that, “each prison, its local rape crisis center, and JDI have signed a three-way memorandum of understanding (MOU), formalizing their collaboration. By agreeing to post placards inside its prisons, the CDCR has also made sure that inmates know how to contact both the participating rape crisis center and JDI.” Currently, 31 of California’s 33 adult prisons have signed MOU’s.

Click here to continue reading.

Merced Sun Star: “Corrections officials reverse themselves”

The Merced Sun Star reported on Monday that “homeless sex offenders on parole may once again live along Black Rascal Creek” as long as the landowner does not object. Assistant Regional Administrator Bobby Haase said “parole has never been in the housing business. The department’s role is to enforce what parolees can’t do, not tell them what they can.”

Click here to continue reading.

ABC News reported earlier today that, “it’s been 15 years since the Violence Against Women Act was first signed into law by then President Bill Clinton – strengthening laws protecting victims of domestic and sexual assault. Several women testified on Tuesday about the continuing importance of the bill to the Senate Judiciary Committee.”

Actress Gabrielle Union shared her own personal story and discussed the Violence Against Women Act, during her testimony. Union said:

To help get over the trauma of the assault, I immediately turned to a rape crisis center for support. It was there that I met my rape crisis counselor, and it was truly because of her that I was able to cope with this horrific experience and begin to move on. In addition, I participated in a rape survivor group which was also critical to my recovery. The support of my counselor and the support of my friends who had also been victimized gave me my life back.

Testimony was also hear from Catherine Pierce, Karen Tronsgard-Scott, Ann Burke, Collene Campbell and Sally Wolfgang Wells.

Click here to watch a brief television segment.

From NSVRC

WASHINGTON, DC – Award-winning actress and sexual assault survivor Gabrielle Union will testify in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee on the importance of the Violence Against Women Act. Union’s testimony will focus on her personal experiences as a sexual assault survivor and the need to provide funding to support services for victims. A rape crisis counselor played a critical role in her own recovery.

“Rape victims are not strangers. They are your mothers, sisters, daughters and your friends, said Union. “Justice shouldn’t be for a select few but for all. Sexual violence is a complex and traumatic experience for both the victim as well as their support system – family members, friends, and colleagues.”

Rape crisis services play a critical role in mitigating the trauma of sexual violence and helping survivors with the possible severe consequences on their well-being and stability. Around the country, however, rape crisis services are woefully underfunded at the state and federal levels.

The funding through the new Sexual Assault Services Program (SASP), which was authorized in the Violence Against Women Act of 2005, provides the first dedicated federal funding stream to local advocacy and direct service providers that are specifically designed to meet the individual needs of each survivor. The President’s FY 2010 budget includes $12 million the Sexual Assault Services Program.

“The National Alliance to End Sexual Violence applauds Gabrielle Union’s courage in testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee about her experience of sexual assault,” said Monika Johnson Hostler, President of NAESV. “As the Senate begins its work on the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, we are pleased that senators are taking time to think about the needs of the 1 in 6 women and 1 in 33 men in our country who have experienced sexual assault.”

The National Alliance to End Sexual Violence (NAESV) works to end sexual violence and ensure services for victims. The NAESV Board of Directors consists of leaders of state sexual assault coalitions and national law, policy, and tribal experts who promote the organization’s mission to advance and strengthen public policy on behalf of state coalitions, individuals, and other entities working to end sexual violence. Most importantly, the NAESV advocates on behalf of the victim/survivors—women, children and men—who have needlessly suffered the serious trauma of sexual violence and envisions a world free from sexual violence. For more information, visit www.naesv.org.

As economic conditions worsen, victims are left with fewer resources and the demand for lifesaving services increases. Recognizing the great need for additional funding for essential domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking programs, on Tuesday, January 27, 2009, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed an economic stimulus bill entitled the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan (S.1).

This bill provides the following funding for critical victim services: $300 million for the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), specifically for Services, Training, Officers, and Prosecution (STOP)  state formula grants; out of which, $50  million will be allocated to the VAWA Transitional Housing program; and $100 million for the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA).

As exciting as this news is, it is only the first step in the process. It is critical that these Senate provisions are protected as the bill moves toward becoming law.  Make sure that your Senators hear how important the Senate bill provisions are to victims of violence!

Urge your Senators to support $300 million for the VAWA STOP program, $50 million for the VAWA Transitional Housing program, and for $100 million for the Victims of Crime Act.

Click here and send your message.

RH Reality Check posted an opinion piece highlighting the work done by Senator Biden on the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) as well as the International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA), today:

…There’s no question VAWA has made an impact on women’s lives at home. But what people may not know is that Biden is also the co-writer of a bill currently in committee called the International Violence Against Women Act. I-VAWA is backed by three major NGOs, Amnesty International USA, Women Thrive Worldwide, and the Family Violence Prevention Fund, and the support of dozens more.

Click here to read the post.

On October 1st Senator Obama made the following statement acknowledging October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

“Today, I join all Americans in observing Domestic Violence Awareness Month. At a time when one in four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime, it’s more important than ever that we dedicate ourselves to working on behalf of the thousands of women who suffer in silence.

“Too often, victims of domestic violence don’t know where to turn, or have no one to turn to. And too often, a victim could be someone you love. That’s why, as a State Senator, I led the fight in Illinois to pass one of the strongest employment protection laws in the nation, ensuring that victims of domestic violence could seek shelter or treatment without losing their jobs.That’s why I introduced legislation in the U.S. Senate to provide $25 million a year to domestic violence prevention and victim support efforts. That’s why I co-sponsored and helped reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act. And today, I am so proud to have Senator Joe Biden, the man who wrote that groundbreaking legislation that gave so many women a second chance at life, as my running mate in this campaign.

“As President, I’ll make these efforts a national priority. This month, and every month, we must fight to bring domestic violence out of the darkness of isolation and into the light of justice, especially for minority and immigrant women, and women in every community where it goes unreported far too often. We’ll stop treating this as just a woman’s issue, and start recognizing that when a woman is attacked, that abuse scars not only the victim, but her loved ones, sending currents of violence that ripple across our society. We need all hands on deck to address this – neighbors willing to report suspected crimes, families willing to help loved ones seek treatment, and community leaders willing to candidly discuss this issue in public and break the stigma that stops so many women from coming forward. Together, we’ll make it clear that no woman ever struggles alone.”

For more information, please contact Senator Obama’s Press Office at: 312-819-2423

Note: We contacted Senator McCain’s campaign to find out if he released a statement about Domestic Violence Awareness Month, but they have not returned our phone call.

Fred Strebeigh wrote a statement on Senator Joseph Biden and the history of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), earlier this week.

Strebeigh piece provides an interesting perspective on the VAWA and Senator Biden’s role in authoring the legislation.

VAWA is a federal act that provides funding to rape crisis centers throughout the country for prevention and response to sexual violence and “Biden has proclaimed it the ‘most important legislative accomplishment’ of his Senate career.”

The piece appeared in The New Republic: A Journal of Politics and the Arts.

Information from National Alliance to End Sexual Violence (NAESV)

This has been a very busy week regarding FY 2009 appropriations in Washington, D.C. Below is an a summary from NAESV. The news is good!

FY 2009 COMMERCE, JUSTICE SCIENCE (CJS) APPROPRIATIONS

This week, the Senate Appropriations Committee completed its work on its FY 2009 CJS spending plan. No major changes were made by the full Committee and the Sexual Assault Services Program received $12 million.

As you may recall, on June 19, on the other side of Capitol Hill, the House Appropriations Committee approved a spending plan that included $15 million for the Sexual Assault Service Program.

Overall the House CJS bill increased VAWA programs by $35 million for a total funding level of $435 million, and the Senate increased VAWA programs by $15 million for a total funding level of close to $415 million.

FY 2009 LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND EDUCATION (LHHS) APPROPRIATIONS

Also this week, the Senate Appropriations Committee completed its work on its FY 2009 LHHS spending plan. This program of most interest to sexual assault advocates is the Rape Prevention Education (RPE) program. A $1.2 million increase was included in the bill bringing RPE up to $43 million.

VOCA FUNDING

While the news is positive regarding VOCA, we still have a long way to go. In the House, the FY 2009 CJS spending bill increased the VOCA cap by $60 million – up to $650 million. In the Senate, the VOCA was increased by $45 million to $635 million.

For a detailed updated of the FY 2009 funding levels click here.

Please Take a Moment to Call your Member of Congress today and say “Thank you!” for supporting programs that help victims of sexual assault!

THANK THE SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE FOR THEIR WORK ON THE CJS AND LHHS BILLS

• CJS Subcommittee Chairwoman Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)
• CJS Subcommittee Ranking Member Richard Shelby (R-AL)
• LHHS Subcommittee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA)
• LHHS Subcommittee Ranking Member Arlen Specter (R-PA)
• Appropriations Committee Chairman Robert Byrd (D-WV)
• Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Thad Cochran (R-MS)
• All members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and
• The many Senators who advocated for increased funding.

THANK THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE FOR THEIR WORK ON THE CJS BILL (LHHS BILL STILL NOT COMPLETE)

• CJS Subcommittee Chairman Alan Mollohan (D-WV)
• CJS Ranking Member Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ)
• Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (D-WI),
• Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Jerry Lewis (R-CA)
• All members of the House Appropriations Committee, and
• The many Representatives who advocated for increased funding.

If you have any questions, please contact: Ellen Fern or Ana Ottman.

NAESV’s E-Lobby Week has arrived!

Over 325 letters have already been sent to Congresspeople from across the country. This is your last chance to join advocates Nationally and have your voice heard in Washington, DC!

The National Alliance to End Sexual Violence (NAESV) E-Lobby Week is going on now (4/21/08 – 4/25/08). April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and the NAESV E-Lobby week is a chance to spread the word all the way to Congress. To participate, there are two components:

1. Be virtually present in Washington, DC:

With a click of a button, participants will send a letter to their Members of Congress explaining how important funding for sexual assault services is in your state. After signup, this step takes as little as 45 seconds from start to finish!

2. District Visits:

It is what you do at home in your Congressional district that really brings this virtual lobby week together. Making a visit to your Member of Congress’ district office is an important means of getting your voice heard and in building relationships with staff.

How to participate:

Click here to register. Once you’ve registered, you will be “carried” through the process electronically during the E-Lobby Week.

Click here to log in and send your message:

Earlier this week, CALCASA and the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence (NAESV) visited federal legislators to advocate for sexual assault victim service funding. There are two key federal funding streams that sexual assault crisis programs in California depend upon for services: Victim of Crime Act (VOCA) and Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) funds – both of which are facing reductions this year.

CALCASA staff visited the following legislators:
Congresswoman Doris Matsui
Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard
Congressman Mike Honda
Senator Barbara Boxer
Senator Dianne Feinstein

These visits were conducted in connection with NAESV’s national E-lobby week that is encouraging community members to speak to our federal legislators about the importance of victim service funding.

To participate you can:

1. Be virtually present in Washington, DC:

With a click of a button, participants will send a letter to their Members of Congress explaining how important funding for sexual assault services is in your state. After signup, this step takes as little as 45 seconds from start to finish!

2. District Visits:

It is what you do at home in your Congressional district that really brings this virtual lobby week together. Making a visit to your Member of Congress’ district office is an important means of getting your voice heard and in building relationships with staff.

How to participate:

Click on the link below, to register. Once you’ve registered, you will be “carried” through the process electronically during the E-Lobby Week.

Click here to log-in and send your message.

Beginning April 21st, CALCASA will be unveiling a week-long E-Lobbying effort along with the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence (NAESV) urging Congress to fully fund the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and to raise the cap on the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA). The NAESV has chosen to partner CALCASA in an effort to create a National grassroots effort, raising critical awareness amongst members of Congress regarding just how vital these funds are to Rape Crisis Centers.

In California, the state budget deficit of $16 billion has limited effects on rape crisis centers because in the entire state, only $50k from State General Fund goes to rape crisis centers. That relative safety is not present when considering the Federal funds that rape crisis centers receive. Nearly $20 million each year comes directly from VAWA and VOCA to rape crisis centers, and current estimates range from 5-10% possible rescissions in those funds. After several years of such rescissions, California’s rape crisis centers, like those across the country have seen the need for mounting a National campaign.

From April 21st-25th, CALCASA’s Online Grassroots Advocacy Center will allow people to send letters to all of their Congressional representatives with the click of a button. For most people the process takes less than a minute from start-to-finish, and their voice will be heard in Washington D.C.

In order to participate in the campaign, please register here.

After registering, you will receive an email as soon as the campaign begins directing you to the website to send your letter. Participation is free, and an important way to let Congress know just how important Federal funding is for California’s rape crisis centers.

Last week the Senate passed an amendment to the FY 2009 Budget Resolution. The amendment was introduced by U.S. Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE).

Senator Biden’s “amendment would add $100 million to the funding allocation for VAWA programs, which are administered by the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services.”

In addition, the amendment will “provide a much-needed funding boost to programs that will train more police officers, judges, and prosecutors, expand transitional housing for victims, improve services for battered women in rural areas and Indian land, launch prevention programs aimed at boys and young men and much more.”

Click here to continue reading the press release.

From OVW Press Release

WASHINGTON – Cindy Dyer was confirmed as Director for the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), the Department of Justice announced. Ms. Dyer was nominated to this position by President George W. Bush on Aug. 2, 2007 and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Dec. 19, 2007. Prior to her appointment she was with the Dallas County, Texas, District Attorney’s Office.

Ms. Dyer is an experienced prosecutor and a recognized authority on the topic of family violence and sexual assault. She was the first prosecutor to join the Family Violence Division during its inception in 1994 and became the Chief Prosecutor of that division in 1998.

She has received numerous awards and recognition for her service to victims, including the Henry Wade Prosecutor of the Year award from the Greater Dallas Crime Commission, the Equal Justice Award from the Legal Services of North West Texas, and the Stephen Von Riesen Lecturer of Merit Award from the National College of District Attorneys.

As an active member of her community in Dallas, she has served on the board of the Texas Council on Family Violence, assisted in proposing and drafting legislation to help victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, and served as a volunteer for local organizations, including a non-profit women’s shelter. Ms. Dyer graduated from Texas A&M University and Baylor University Law School.

The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), a component of the U.S. Department of Justice, provides national leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to reduce violence against women through the implementation of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and subsequent legislation.

Created in 1995, OVW administers financial and technical assistance to communities across the country that are developing programs, policies, and practices aimed at ending domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. In addition to overseeing 12 federal grant programs, OVW often undertakes a number of initiatives in response to areas of special need, dedicating resources to develop enhancements in areas requiring particular attention or in communities facing particularly acute challenges. More information is available at www.ovw.usdoj.gov.

VAWA Programs Increased by $17.3 million

Sexual assault advocates have reason to celebrate the December 26th signing of the $555 billion Omnibus funding package for FY 2008. For the first time, the Sexual Assault Services Program (SASP) will be funded and federal resources for sexual assault victim services will be made available! The first time funding level for SASP is $9.4 million.

The bill debated by Congress and ultimately signed into law by the President combined all of the unfinished appropriations for FY 2008, including the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education (LHHS) and Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) appropriations bills. This means that funding for VAWA and VOCA programs (e.g., Rural Grants Program, RPE, SASP, STOP, etc.) and many other programs on which survivors and their children rely including, Head Start, child care, housing assistance, and home energy aid will be funded through one omnibus spending measure. Overall, VAWA programs administered by the Department of Justice have seen a $17.3 million increase!

While we are thrilled to report that SASP has received funding and VAWA as a whole has received an increase, unfortunately the news is not entirely positive. Many programs received cuts including the Victim of Crime Act Fund (VOCA), which has been cut by $35 million. Many Members of Congress supported increases to the VOCA cap, the pressure from the President to cut funding was just too strong.

Programs within the Labor Health and Human Services budget like the Rape Prevention and Education program and the Family Violence Prevention Services Act (FVPSA) received no funding increases or cuts, leaving them at the same funding level as last year. Each year, however, all programs have a small percent taken off their overall budget, called a rescission. This year the rescission for programs in the LHHS portion of the bill was a 1.747% across the board cut which essentially cuts funding to these programs.

We need your voice! NAESV will be focusing on these strategic activities this month:

• Document the impact: The National Center for Victims of Crime will be developing a user-friendly survey for advocates and program providers to tell us how the VOCA cut impacts your programs and victims in your area. NAESV and other organizations will help to distribute the survey nationwide, and the results will be used as evidence as we fight for VOCA increases in fiscal year 2009.
• Call-in: We will be organizing a call-in day for folks to discuss the impact of the VOCA cut and discuss how we can move forward in the future.
• Write a letter: We will draft a letter that you can modify and send to your Members of Congress about the importance of VOCA funding.
• Talks to candidates: We will supply you with talking points and questions for the presidential candidates. As they move through the primaries, they need to know that VOCA is a significant issue for the American public.
• Thank you for being ready to act in these strategic ways to ensure a stable future for VOCA!

Congress spent the weekend drafting an Omnibus Appropriations bill. The House is likely to vote on the bill early this evening and the Senate will vote on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Overall, DOJ VAWA programs have seen a $17.7 million increase! Unfortunately, some programs that mean a great deal to sexual assault and domestic violence advocates have also received cuts due to the extreme pressure Congress faced to get the bill down to the President’s budget request and to stave off another veto by the President.

In addition to cuts made to programs throughout the Omnibus and throughout each federal agency, an across the board cut will also impact each and every federal program. This year the across the board cut is at 1.747%. Many advocates let out a sigh of relief as we had been hearing dire predictions of up to 5% percent across the board cuts.

THE GOOD NEWS:

Many programs have received increases including $9.4 million for the Sexual Assault Services Program (when you consider we started at $0); a $1.6 million increase for Services for Rural Victims, a $2.8 million increase for Services for Teens, and $2.8 million for Services for Children Exposed to Domestic Violence! Also please remember final numbers for these programs will include the across the board cut.

We know that Congress worked for these increases under extreme pressure to make cuts. This is a huge victory for us! Our grassroots calls about VOCA and VAWA funding are surely the reason behind these increases!

Many core social safety net programs, upon which victims rely won increases in this appropriations bill, including heat assistance, WIC, and Community Health Centers.

THE BAD NEWS:

The VOCA fund has been cut by $35million. This is a huge cut and will have serious consequences for programs. Working with our allied organizations here in DC, we are developing a strategy to bring the VOCA fund back to its original numbers to meet the growing needs of victims.

The President wanted to ax the fund completely, and Congress was under extreme pressure to get to his numbers.
The fact that we were able to save the VOCA fund from complete annihilation is a testament to our collective hard work.

We are all angry about this devastating cut but we need to channel our anger toward positive results next year!

The other bad news is a $2.1 million cut to Legal Assistance for Victims and a $3.2 million cut to Grants to Encourage Arrest.

NEXT STEPS

The House of Representatives is slated to vote on the Omnibus as early as this evening. Then it will be passed over to the Senate where more funding for the war in Iraq is expected to be added on to the measure.

It will then be sent back over to the House for a final vote before being sent to the President for his signature. At this time the President is expected to sign the bill. However, a lot can change after the House and Senate vote on the bill and pass it on to the President. We are waiting for more concrete information.

The House will take up a bill on Tuesday combining all unfinished appropriations for FY 2008, including the Labor-Health and Human Services and Education (LHHS) and Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) appropriations bills, which include VAWA and VOCA funding (e.g., SASP, Rural Grants Program, RPE) and many other programs on which survivors and their children rely.

The Senate is expected to take up the bill later in the week. In order to win over enough votes to increase buy-in from Members of Congress, the Democratic leadership is expected to cut $10.6 billion from its previously approved total.

The President has threatened to veto the compromise bill and has refused to negotiate. If Members of Congress vote for the original bill, they are more likely to vote to override the President’s veto.

You play a crucial role. Be a voice for sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking and dating violence victims and for VAWA and VOCA programs.

What can you do?

Call or write your Senators and Representative TODAY and tell them to vote YES on the Omnibus Appropriations bill!

Call 1-888-245-0215, which will connect you to the Capitol switchboard.

Below are some things you can tell your legislator:

• Thank you for working so hard to increase funding for Violence Against Women Act programs and to raise the cap on the Victims of Crime Act Fund in the Fiscal Year 2008 Appropriations bills.

• Please vote YES for the Omnibus Appropriations bill to ensure that victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking and teen dating violence can receive the lifesaving, cost-effective services they need.

• Sexual assault is a devastating, life-threatening crime that faces our nation. It impacts men, women and children. Please protect the $10 million appropriated to the Sexual Assault Services Program.

• VAWA programs work – Rape crisis centers do wonderful work but they are under funded and must place victims on waiting lists for services.

Below is an urgent action alert from the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence (NAESV) regarding VAWA and VOCA Funding decisions that impact California.

Last week Congress finished working out the differences between the House and the Senate on their Labor Health and Human Services (LHHS) Appropriations Bill that funds the Rape Prevention and Education (RPE) Program and other Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) programs administered by the US Department of Health and Human Services. This bill provided an increase in RPE funding for FY 2008 to $43.7 million! The bill must now be sent to the President, who has threatened to veto it (more on that below). Members of Congress must hear from you to vote to OVERRIDE President’s veto!

Your calls throughout the year made a difference and ensured that an increase was maintained when the House and Senate compromised on their LHHS bills. As you may recall, the House had level funded RPE while the Senate bill included an increase. Now we must keep our voices strong so Congress knows they must send a message to the President.

…And that’s exactly why we need you to KEEP MAKING CALLS about funding for VAWA programs administered by the US Department of Justice (DOJ)!

Let’s ensure another victory for VAWA Funding! Make calls this week before Congress Adjourns for Thanksgiving and a 2-Week “Harvest Recess”!

IF YOU HAVEN’T CALLED YET, CALL NOW TO MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD. IF YOU’VE ALREADY CALLED, FORWARD THIS E-MAIL ON TO A FRIEND!

To find out how to contact your Member of Congress go to www.senate.gov; or www.house.gov. Or call Capitol Hill switchboard at 202.224.3121 and they will connect you to your Member of Congress.

When you call your Senator or Representative, your call will be answered by a receptionist. Tell him or her that you want to leave a message for the Senator or Representative. The receptionist will take down your message. Tell them:

• “Thank you for working so hard to provide funding for the Sexual Assault Services Program (SASP) as well as funding increases for Violence Against Women Act programs and to raise the cap on the Victims of Crime Act Fund in the Fiscal Year 2008 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bill.”

• “Please protect the $10 million appropriated to SASP as well as the increases that the House and the Senate have provided for VAWA and VOCA.”

If you have time or the opportunity, tell them about why you need more funding:

• Sexual assault is a devastating, life-threatening crime that faces our nation. It impacts men, women and children.

• VAWA programs work: Tell them about successes in your local programs.

• Rape crisis centers do wonderful work but they are underfunded and must place victims, (e.g., children) on waiting lists for services.

• Some rape crisis centers are even closing their doors.

• Tell them about the unmet needs in your community.

THE DETAILS (AND THE VETO THREAT)

VAWA Programs at DOJ

Thanks to YOUR ADVOCACY THIS YEAR, the House of Representatives and the Senate both recognized the urgent need for services for victims of domestic and sexual violence and voted to increase VAWA funding and raise the VOCA cap in their Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) appropriations bills.

Now the House and Senate must resolve the differences in the two versions of their appropriations bills and create one final bill that is passed by Congress and signed by the President. To secure increases for VAWA and VOCA, we must make sure that victims’ voices are heard during this process.

Check out this link for more information on the budget and appropriations process:

As you will see, for some programs the House has allocated more funding while the Senate has allocated more funding for other programs. We are urging the Representatives and Senators to protect the larger increases in funding for each program.

The calls you made about VAWA and VOCA amendments made a tangible difference in the outcomes of those amendments. Amendments in the House passed by landslide margins!

We are on a roll but we haven’t won yet! We need the final CJS Appropriations Bills to include the larger of the House or Senate numbers for each grant program.

VAWA Programs at HHS

The President has made it clear that he will veto this bill, and it does not appear Congress has enough votes to override the veto. This means that Congress must eventually reach a compromise with the White House and pass a second bill with less spending. The more calls we make about VAWA and SASP, the more likely it is that increases in VAWA and SASP will be maintained no matter what compromise is eventually reached. So don’t feel defeated by the veto threat – the only thing that will help us increase funding is your grassroots support.

THANK YOU!!!

On Thursday, October 4th, the Senate passed the FY 2008 Commerce, Justice and Science (CJS) Appropriations bill and included an amendment that provides $10 million more to VAWA programs! The amendment provides:

· $5 million to partially restore the cut the Senate CJS Committee had previously proposed to Grants to Encourage Arrest and Enforcement of Protection Orders;
· $4 million for Engaging Men and Youth in Prevention Efforts; and
· $1 million for a National Resource Center on Workplace Responses to Assist Victims of Domestic and Sexual Violence.

This year the Senate bill includes $418 million for VAWA programs within the Department of Justice. The House passed a $459 million funding bill. In addition, the Senate and House CJS appropriations bill contain $10 million for the Sexual Assault Services Act (SASP).

Both the House and the Senate will “conference” the two different appropriations bills together and work out their differences, pass the new version in both the House and Senate and then send the bill to the President for his signature. However, earlier this week President Bush vetoed the State Children’s Health Insurance Plan (SCHIP) and has threatened to veto any spending bill that provides more money than he had requested for a specific agency in his FY 2008 budget plan.

You haven’t missed your chance to make your voice heard. PLEASE take a few moments to contact your Senators and Representatives. Urge them to override a Presidential Veto! Tell your legislator about the financial need for rape crisis centers in your State to provide both prevention programs and direct services for victims.