VAWA and VOCA:

1

• VAWA and VOCA
• Advocacy Points
• Allison Randall
• National Network to End Domestic Violence

2
The Violence Against Women Act

• First passed in 1994 and reauthorized in 2000
  unanimously reauthorized in 2005
• Serves victims of domestic violence, dating
  violence, sexual assault and stalking nationwide
• Serves women, men and children
• Is intended to make systemic change to end
  domestic and sexual violence

3
Congressional Support

• Last year, Congress requested increased funding
  for key VAWA programs 100.4 million in the
  House and 49.9 million in the Senate.
• The final Congressional Budget included 17.3
  million new dollars for VAWA programs.
• Why is Congress so supportive of VAWA?

4
VAWA is Effective

• VAWA programs are a good investment they save
  lives and money.
• Domestic violence has declined.
• Homicides have decreased 24 for women and 48
  for men.
• Non-fatal assaults have decreased 63.
• VAWA 94 saved taxpayers at least 14.8 billion
  in net averted social costs in its first 6 years.
  
• Since VAWA 94, there has been a 27-51 increase
  in reporting rates of DV.

5
Demand for Services is Rising

• The success of VAWA has lead many more victims to
  come forward and request help.
• As we train police or conduct outreach, more
  people learn about our services and gain the
  courage to ask for help.
• Calls to the National Domestic Violence Hotline
  increased 10 last year, and nearly 30,000 calls
  went unanswered due to increased call volume.
• Children as young as 18 months are on waiting
  lists to receive treatment and therapy following
  sexual assault.

6
VAWA-Funded Programs Making a Difference

• In one day alone, 1,346 domestic violence
  programs (69)
• Served 53,203 individuals
• Trained an additional 29,902 and
• Answered 20,582 hotline calls.
• Tragically, 7,707 individuals had to be turned
  away because shelters were full or resources were
  limited.

7
VAWA A Comprehensive Response

• Criminal Civil Justice
• Services Intervention
• Children Youth
• Prevention/Early Intervention
• VAWA works efficiently to stretch funding across
  communities

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Authorization vs Appropriation

• After a bill is passed, Congress must fund it in
  their Congressional Budget
• They decide this year by year
• The amounts authorized in a bill are not binding
  Congress can appropriate more funding, less
  funding, or none at all
• Its easy to pass a bill, but hard to secure
  appropriations for it!

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Critical Programs Exciting Opportunities

• In the Labor/Health and Human Services Budget
• Emergency Domestic Violence Shelters
• Long-Term Stability for Victims
• Prevention and Early Intervention
• Rape Prevention and Education
• Linking with Health Care Providers
• Addressing Child Abuse

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Critical Programs Exciting Opportunities

• In the Commerce, Justice, Science Budget
• Rural Grants
• Sexual Assault Services Program
• Legal Assistance for Victims
• Children and Youth
• Transitional Housing
• STOP Grants

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The Presidents Budget Request

• The Presidents FY 09 Budget Request proposes
• eliminating individual VAWA programs and creating
  one block grant instead
• cutting 120 million from VAWA
• This disastrous plan has already been rejected by
  many Members of Congress.

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Whats Next?

• The House and Senate are drafting their
  appropriations bills
• This is a critical time period, and our best
  opportunity!
• Congress actually cares what YOU have to say
• Bills will be introduced in May June
  amendments this summer final bill may not be
  done until next year

16
Our Ask Fully Fund VAWA in FY 09

• Ask your Senators and Representatives to fully
  fund VAWA programs
• Tell your story make it real for them
• Talk about needs and successes
• Ask what they are going to do to support
  increased funding of the Violence Against Women
  Act

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What is the Crime Victims Fund?

• Created in 1984 as revenue source for the Victims
  of Crime Act (VOCA) to support state victim
  assistance and crime victim compensation.
• Separate account self-sufficient.
• Paid entirely by Federal criminal offenders no
  taxpayer dollars.
• Only Federal funding for direct services to
  victims of all types of crimes.

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Unlike other programs

• Permanent authorization, no sunset.
• Continuing appropriation.
• Cap on Fund delays amounts otherwise available
  for obligation.
• Unobligated amounts remain in Fund for future
  victim services.

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How Crime Victims Fund works
Crime Victims Fund
Year One
Year Two
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State Victim Assistance Grants

• 56 jurisdictions grant
• base pop.
• 4,400 public and nonprofit agencies
• provide direct victim assistance services
• to 3.8 million victims of all types of crimes
  each year.

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Fund Deposits/Caps
1985-2007 9 Billion
Est. FY 09 Opening Balance 1.9 Billion
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FY 08 Cuts to VOCA

• The VOCA cap was lowered by 6 last year due to
  an across-the-board cut made to all DOJ programs
• This is a 35 million loss for VOCA
• DOJ also plans to take additional 40 for their
  management and administrative costs
• This devastating cut to services will be felt
  over the next several years

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2009 Presidents Budget Request

• Rescinds 2.024 billion.
• Sets cap at 590 million (maintaining the 6 cut
  made in FY 08).
• Includes 50 million Antiterrorism Emergency
  Reserve under the cap.
• Transforms Fund from special account into
  revenue-offset account.

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2.024 billion Rescission

• Opening balance, 2009 (rainy day
  balance) 1,904
• plus amounts to be collected during 2009
  710
• 2,614
• less new budget authority (cap) -590
• less rescission -2,024
• Opening balance, 2010 -0-
• What happens in 2010?

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VOCA Program Funding
Cap Other VOCA Programs/OJP Costs StateVicti
m Assistance Grants
2009 Request
2006
2008 est.
2007
2009 est.
In millions Includes 50 million AER
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VOCA Program Funding
Cap Other VOCA Programs/OJP Costs StateVicti
m Assistance Grants
2009 Request
2006
2008 est.
2007
2009 est.
In millions Includes 50 million AER
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Fund Availability
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Restore VOCA Assistance

• 770 million cap FY 2006 state victim
  assistance grants.
• 717 million cap, if AER kept above the cap.
• 677 million cap, if OJP MA direct appropriation
  (32.4 million).
• Money already collected from Federal offenders
  and kept in Fund to maintain stable funding for
  victim services.
• Does not include increases in
• Crime rates.
• Demands for services.
• Types of crimes (e.g. stalking, human
  trafficking, identity theft, etc.).
• Costs of operations (e.g. gas, heat/utilities,
  stamps, etc.).
• Direct funding for state victim assistance grants.

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What the FY 08 Cut Means

• According to a survey by the National Center for
  Victims of Crime
• Many grant recipients will turn away victims
  needing services
• Some will lose staff
• Some programs will close entirely

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Our Ask Restore VOCA

• Tell staff that theres another COMPLETELY
  DIFFERENT issue you want to talk about VOCA
• Remind them its not taxpayer dollars
• If your state is getting a cut this year, tell
  them what it means for you
• Ask them to raise the cap on the VOCA fund to
  restore victim assistance to FY 06 levels

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Want to know more?

• We have lots of materials that explain the
  appropriations process or provide more detail
  about VAWA, VOCA and how to lobby
  www.nnedv.org/funding
• Call your state DV and SA coalitions for advice
  and information
• Do whatever Randi says!

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Ash says thank you (and yes you can use VAWA
funds to help keep pets safe)