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News Alert

NAESV FUNDING UPDATE
June 2007

Great News! Because of your hard work, your calls, your letters, your direct advocacy on Capitol Hill, the Sexual Assault Services Program has been funded at $10 million.
Updated Appropriations Chart Available!
Includes funding levels for programs affecting sexual and domestic violence for Fiscal Year 2008.

On June 11, the House Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Subcommittee “marked up” its FY 2008 Appropriations Bill. Overall the Committee recommends $430,000,000 to support grants under the Violence Against Women Act, which is $47,429,000 above the current year and $59,995,000 above the President’s request.

The Committee Report also makes special note: “The Administration also proposes to eliminate existing formula and discretionary grant programs administered by OVW, and replace them with a single competitive grant program. The Committee recommendation rejects the Administration’s proposal and retains the basic OVW account structure used in previous fiscal years.”

SEXUAL ASSAULT SERVICES PROGRAM - $10 MILLION
In the bill, the program is referred to as “Assistance to Victims of Sexual Assault.” The Committee Report language reads:

Assistance to Victims of Sexual Assault – Within the funds provided, the Committee recommends $10,000,000 for a new program of assistance to victims of sexual assault, as authorized by section 202 of the Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-162). These funds are made available for grants to States, territories and tribal governments to provide services to adult and minor sexual assault victims, their family and household members.

OTHER PROGRAMS OF NOTE WHO TO THANK
While the Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Subcommittee passed this bill on Monday night, and we must thank Chairman Alan Mollohan (D-WV) and Ranking Member Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ), we MUST recognize the leadership of Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) who has continued to champion the SASP program and fight for funding at double the level we received last year. I urge you and your members to send a thank you note to Rep. DeLauro for being our champion. She must hear our thank you’s loudly and clearly!!

WHAT’S NEXT???
While this news is very exciting, I must remind us all that this is the very first step in a very, very long appropriations process. On Monday, June 18th, the full House Appropriations Committee is scheduled to vote on this bill. There may be amendments added to fund additional programs but it will be passed out of full committee early next week. Then the bill must make its way to the House floor. Rep. David Obey (D-WI), Chair of the Appropriations Committee, is committed to getting all appropriations bills passed on the House floor by the July 4th recess.

A similar process is also being conducted in the Senate. We expect the Senate Appropriations Commerce, Justice, and Science Committee to begin its deliberations in late June. We have been in discussions with staff members in the Senate and have strong relationships with both Chairman Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) as well as Ranking Member Richard Shelby (R-AL).

Ultimately, any differences between the competing House- and Senate-passed appropriations bills must be resolved before the President can sign the final version of the CJS appropriations bill into law. We expect this process not to conclude before the Fall.

STAY TUNED FOR MORE UPDATES AND REPORTS!
Overall, the past two weeks have been a good start to the appropriations process for sexual assault advocates!

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