2007 NAESV Lobby Day

News Alert

NAESV FUNDING UPDATE
April 2007

In the first few months of 2007, the 110th Congress has been working on many items - a few of which have a direct impact on sexual assault advocates.

Updated Appropriations Chart Available!

Includes funding levels for programs affecting sexual and domestic violence for Fiscal Year 2008.

Of immediate interest is the federal budget for fiscal year 2008. Within that, NAESV has been working as part of a larger coalition of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking groups to fully funding the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), with a particular focus on securing full funding for the Sexual Assault Services Program (SASP), the Rural Grants program and the Rape Prevention Education program. In addition, we are working hard to restore funding to the Preventive Health and Human Services Block Grant (PHHSBG).

The first step toward actually providing funding to states and communities occurred in February when the President released his FY 2008 budget request which was extremely disappointing.

The President's FY 2008 budget request proposes funding for VAWA programs at $421.6 million. This amount is $406.4 million less than authorized by Congress in 2006. It also recommends consolidating all VAWA programs funded through the Department of Justice into one competitive block grant which would be open to all eligible grantees, from state governments, to law enforcement agencies to rural shelters. This ignores the Congressional intent behind each program and creates inefficiencies and competition for these already stretched funds. Implementing this block grant would create a massive administrative burden on the Office on Violence Against Women and would generate devastating chaos on local programs and state funding.

The President's budget is not a final document but rather a proposed budget from which the legislative branch begins its deliberations. It sets the tone for budget discussions on Capitol Hill. Interestingly, Members on both sides of the aisle claimed the President’s budget to be “dead on arrival”. During the budget process, advocates scored a huge victory when Delaware Democratic Senator Joe Biden offered an amendment to the Senate Budget Resolution that was passed that raised the overall funding level $100 million for VAWA. The amendment was passed by unanimous consent. The Bbudget Rresolution is not a binding document but rather a blueprint from which the appropriations committees begin writing their own spending bills. The message was loud and clear however – violence against women programs need more funding in fiscal year 2008 than the President has requested. The House has also passed its own Budget Resolution which must be conferenced with the Senate version. This will take place during the week of April 16 and Democratic leadership is hopeful that by the end of the month, funding allocations for each of the 12 Appropriations Subcommittees will be finalized.is set to debate their budget this week.(Click here for a letter to send to your Representative urging him/her to full fund VAWA, SASP and other crucial programs!)

The next step in writing the federal budget is the appropriations process in which the Appropriations SubcommitteesMembers of Congress decide on how much funding specific programs will receive. Congress has begun hearings and debate on the appropriations bills they will begin to write in late Spring. This process is critical for sexual assault advocates, and it is crucial that your voice is heard! NAESV has been hard at work trying not only to secure full funding for VAWA, but also to secure $50 million for the Sexual Assault Services Program. In the House, a Dear Colleague letter was circulated by Representative Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) that Members of Congress could sign on to in support of full funding for SASP. Because of your grassroots efforts, and the calls you made to your Representatives, 29 members of the House and 29 did sign the Dear Colleague (to see the letter, click here)! Soon, NAESV will circulate a similar letter in the Senate to raise awareness and garner support for this critical program. In order to get as many signatures as possible on the Senate letter we will be turning to you once again to make calls to Senate offices urging them to sign the SASP Dear Colleague. Your voices are critical to ensure as many signatures as possible.

Act now and tell your Senators and Representative to support funding for sexual assault victims by fully funding VAWA. Make sure they know about SASP, the Rural Grants Program and RPE - and all other programs that are important to you and your network of members.

Please Call Your Representative today - use this toll-free number and ask to be connected to your Representative's office: (800) 459-1887

Tell them:

Your name and the city and state you live in.
Let them know that you won't stand for further cuts in domestic spending. If there's not an increase in discretionary spending, VAWA-related programs won't receive full funding!
Tell them how your programs are being hurt or how you cannot serve victims in your communities because you need more resources.

Never called your Members of Congress before? Don't worry, it's easy! When you call your Representative, your call will be answered by a receptionist. Tell him or her that you want to leave a message for the Representative. The receptionist will take down your message. If you're not sure who your Representative is, you can find out at www.house.gov.

Take Action Now!
Customize this draft letter and send to your elected officials.

To find your Member's contact information, including phone and fax numbers, visit www.house.gov, www.senate.gov, or call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask for your Representative or Senator.

For more information, please contact Ellen Fern at efern@wpllc.net or Michelle White mwhite@wpllc.net or 202.289.3900.