Take Action to Urge Congress to Fully Fund VAWA

From left to right, FVPF President Esta Soler, Warm2Kids CEO M.L. Carr, U.S. Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE), and actress Salma Hayek discuss reauthorizing VAWA
read more

Congress reauthorized and expanded the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in 2005, and President Bush signed it into law in January of 2006. The new bill is a major step forward that can significantly improve the nation’s response to domestic, sexual and dating violence, and stalking – if it is fully funded. To date, funding has fallen far short.

The Violence Against Women Act of 2005 contains groundbreaking new initiatives to help children exposed to violence, train health care providers to support victims of abuse, encourage men to teach the next generation that violence is wrong, and provide crisis services for victims of rape and sexual assault. It also continues efforts to improve the law enforcement response to violence against women and provide supportive services, such as transitional housing, to women and children forced to leave their homes because of violence.

But Congress has not yet funded the new programs the law contains. 2007 is a key year when advocates are pressing Congress to fully fund the Violence Against Women Act, and realize the promise of this law. Take Action to Urge Congress to Fully Fund VAWA.