For those in the US -
URGENT ACTION ALERT – Tuesday, February 5, 2008 PRESIDENT’S PROPOSED FY ‘09 BUDGET WOULD HARM VICTIMS!!DEVASTATING CUTS TO THE ‘08 BUDGET ARE ALREADY FORCING PROGRAMS TO TURN VICTIMS AWAY!!
TAKE ACTION NOW TO SAVE LIVES BY INCREASING VAWA & FVPSA FUNDING AND RAISING THE VOCA CAP!!
THE SITUATION
The Fiscal Year (FY) ‘08 budget passed by Congress in December, 2007 included staggering cuts to the Victims of Crime Act Fund (VOCA) – the impact is now being felt by victim service providers across the country who have lost core funding.
Yesterday, the President announced his FY ‘09 Federal Budget. If enacted it would be devastating for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking.
It proposes:
* A decimating $120 million cut from the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA);
* Maintaining $122.6 million for the Family Violence Prevention Services and Act (FVPSA) $52.4 million less than its authorized amount;
* Institutionalizing FY ‘08’s devastating $35 million cut to the Victims of Crime Act (V0CA) Fund cap; and
* The ELIMINATION of the VOCA Fund – a $2 billion loss!
If passed, the President’s budget would catastrophically compound the $35 million cut to VOCA, the probable additional administrative cuts of $41.3 million to VOCA, and the cuts to VAWA and FVPSA. The President’s proposal would further endanger victims’ lives since the current budget cuts are already forcing programs to scramble to continue to be lifelines for millions of victims across this country.
Learn more about the cuts here:
http://www.nnedv.org/docs/Policy/FY08Recap.pdfWHAT YOU CAN DO
The President’s budget is only the first step in the appropriations process.
Your actions RIGHT NOW are crucial in order to secure needed funding for essential VAWA programs, FVPSA and the VOCA Fund.
Learn more about the appropriations process here:
http://www.nnedv.org/pdf/BudgetandAppropriationsOverview.pdfJoin in our national VAWA, FVPSA and VOCA call-in week starting today!
Call your Members of Congress on NNEDV’s toll-free number
1.888.256.7413
To find your Senators and Representatives names, go to: www.senate.gov or www.house.gov
Call the toll-free number and ask for your member of Congress. Tell your Member of Congress:
* “Hello, my name is ____and I am a constituent, from (include your state and town or zip____).”
* “In the Fiscal Year ‘09 Congressional Budget, I urge you to:
-- Fully fund the Violence Against Women Act and the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act;
-- Raise the Victims of Crime Act Fund Cap to $717 million; and
-- Protect the Victims of Crime Act from elimination.”
* “Thank you.”
Passionate advocates making phones ring off the hook in the Capitol will send a clear message to our Congress: You must fulfill the promises of VAWA, FVPSA and VOCA!
Never called your Senators or Representatives before? Don't worry, it's easy!
Call 1-888-256-7413 to be connected to the Capitol Switchboard. Tell them the name of your Senator/Representative and they will connect you to their office. When you call your Senator or Representative, your call will be answered by a receptionist (often an intern). Tell him or her that you want to leave a message for the Senator or Representative. The receptionist will take down your message. Be sure to speak slowly and clearly so they can write down your message.
Send Your Senators and Representatives a Letter
Personalize and send (fax or email) the letter below to your Senators and Representatives. Let’s make sure our Members of Congress know that VAWA, FVPSA and VOCA save lives!
Sample Letter:
http://www.nnedv.org/docs/Policy/SampleLetter-LocalPrograms-FY09.docThe more personal and descriptive you can be in these letters, the better. Members of Congress are interested in learning about how these federal dollars impact their local constituents. The letter is designed for local programs and should be printed on organizational letterhead. If you are an individual, simply delete references to "programs" and talk about why this issue is important to you and your community.
Find email and fax information for your Members of Congress through www.senate.gov or
www.house.gov