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Funding and Appropriations
Issue Overview
Together, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) programs, the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) and the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Fund create and support comprehensive responses to the needs of victims of domestic violence.
Check out the FY09 Appropriations Briefing Book to learn more about VAWA, FVSPA and VOCA funding.
VAWA programs have changed federal, tribal, state and local responses to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking and FVPSA and VOCA support lifesaving emergency shelters and services for domestic violence victims and other crime victims.
VAWA, FVPSA and VOCA funding support battered women's shelters, law enforcement, courts, rape crisis centers, children's services, prevention, community outreach, and other state and local programs that provide services for victims and families. These programs have made significant progress to end domestic violence. Studies show that domestic violence has declined significantly since VAWA was first enacted in 1994. And, in addition to saving lives, VAWA, FVPSA, and VOCA save money by reducing future violence and other related social costs.
Despite their success, these programs continue to see demand increase alongside budget cuts that hinder their ability to provide services. The National Census of Domestic Violence Services found that on one day in 2007, over 53,000 women, men and children in American sought support from local domestic violence programs. Yet, on that same day over 7,700 requests for services went unmet because of a lack of resources. Every day shelters and service providers must turn away victims and families in danger. Congress cannot fail these victims and families and risk turning back on the progress that has been made.
Legislative Action
Congress considers funding for these programs each year when they "appropriate" dollars to these programs in the Congressional Budget.
- Learn more about the annual budget and appropriations process.
NNEDV chairs the Campaign for Full Funding to End Domestic and Sexual Violence an alliance of over 20 national organizations advocating for funding for VAWA, FVPSA and VOCA. The Campaign has called on Congress to fully fund VAWA and FVPSA in the FY 2009 budget and to provide a $717 million increase for the VOCA Fund in order to meet the rising demand for services and continue progress to end domestic and sexual violence.
Both the House and the Senate have heard your voices and have requested signifcant funding increases for VAWA, VOCA and FVPSA for FY 2009!
- The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee passed the Commerce, Justice, Science bill, increasing VAWA funding to $415 million and increasing the VOCA cap to $635 million. The Senate Appropriations Committee also passed the Labor, Health and Human Services bill, increasing FVPSA funding to $125 million.
- The U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee passed the Commerce, Justice, Science bill, increasing VAWA funding to $435 million and increasing the VOCA cap to $650 million. The House Appropriations Committee has not yet passed the Labor, Health and Human Services bill.
Remeber, this is just the beginning of the process. The bills do not become law until they have been pased by the full House and the full Senate, molded into a unified bill and then signed by the President. Check out the Budget and Appropriations Process Overview to get a sense of the timeline.
Learn more about VAWA, FVPSA, and VOCA funding needs.
What You Can Do To Help
Congress must hear from you about the importance of funding for domestic violence services nationwide.
- Sign-up for NNEDV's action alerts so that you can contact Congress when it is most strategic!
- Visit NNEDV's Take Action page for the latest news on Appropriations and how you can make a difference by contacting your members of Congress!