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As we approach the second half of 2010 we must begin to think ahead to 2011; a big year for helping women in the fight against domestic violence. The Violence Against Women Act, VAWA, is up for reauthorization in 2011. Since 1994, VAWA has helped to provide resources and support to victims of domestic violence and their children. VAWA provides funding for the National Domestic Violence Hotline, transitional housing, and legal assistance. It also gives grant money to help educate and better prepare law enforcement, advocates and shelters. It has been reauthorized by Congress in 2000 and again in 2005, each time acquiring more funding and becoming more successful.

As we approach this reauthorization there are several new concerns that advocates for women everywhere wish to have addressed. Catherine Pierce, previous Director of the Office on Violence Against Women said that the next version of VAWA should focus on providing more resources to victims in rural areas, programs that develop better homicide prevention, domestic violence and child custody issues, the effect of violence on children, and better and more frequent use of research to inform the practices of service providers and law enforcement. An additional focus has been put on resources for the Native American community by the Obama Administration in its FY2011 funding request.

Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Robert Menedez (D-NJ) have both created amendments to VAWA for increases in funding. The Casey amendment creates a deficit neutral reserve fund to fully fund the Long-Term Stability/Housing for Victims Program under VAWA. This existing program is authorized at $10 million but has never been funded. This program provides for collaboration between domestic violence service providers and housing providers and developers to pull together their resources and create long-term housing for victims.

The Menedez amendment creates a deficit neutral reserve to fully fund VAWA and FVPSA, the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act, at $1 billion. These programs provide funding for shelters, advocates, and grants to help victims.

Recently the Department of Justice clarified that VAWA also applies to gay and lesbian couples as well as heterosexual ones. This was a major step toward changing the way that the government views the rights of same-sex couples. The language in VAWA is in fact gender neutral and refers to people as “spouses” rather than husband, wife, etc.

Despite the strong history and continuing success of VAWA the act has never been fully funded. Its funding authorization is $683 million, yet the FY2010 budged was appropriated at $625.91 million. President Obama’s FY2011 budget, released in February of 2010, calls for $649.36 million. While the Act has been successful it will never reach its potential until it is fully funded.

In May the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary committee, Patrick Leahy D-VT, as well as Director of the Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women Judge Susan Carbone, testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee about the importance of VAWA especially during the economic downturn. Leahy will lead the Senate Judiciary Committee of 12 Democrats and 7 Republicans during VAWA hearings over the course of the next year leading up to the reauthorization.

It is of the utmost importance that we let our congressmen and senators know that we care about VAWA and support its reauthorization and improvement. Please contact your Congressman, Congresswoman or Senator today. You can also contact the Budget Conferees who reach the conclusion about what to include in the final budget. They are:

Senate:

Sen.  Kent Conrad (D-ND) 202.224.2043

Sen.  Patty Murray (D-WA) 202.224.2621

Sen.  Judd Gregg (R-NH) 202.224.3324

House:

Rep.  John Spratt (D-SC) 202.225.5501

Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) 202.225.3661

Rep. Allen Boyd (D-FL) 202.225.5235

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) 202.225.3031

Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) 202.225.3484

Below is a template of what you can say when you are speaking with staff at in the Member’s office.

"Hello, my name is _____ and I am from _____ [indicate organization, your city and state]."

"I would like Senator/Representative [last name] to keep the VAWA and FVPSA Amendments in the FY 2010 Budget Conference Report."

"These amendments are necessary to achieve full funding of VAWA and FVPSA this year, to mee thte ever increasing demand for victim services."

"Thank you!"

In order to reauthorize and improve this vital law we must act and act quickly. VAWA and FVPSA are two crucial developments our government has assisted with in the fight against domestic violence, so let’s continue to move forward make progress in ending violence against women everywhere.