ACTION ALERT: Protect Victims of Domestic Violence with the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA)
December 13, 2022
Background
THE ISSUE:
Initially authorized in 1984 and administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act Improvement Act (FVPSA) is the sole source of federal funding for domestic violence relief programs and shelter services for victims of family violence. The FVPSA provides funding through federal grants to over 240 tribes and tribal organizations, state coalitions, and national assistance providers. With over 1,500 domestic violence prevention programs relying on FVPSA funding and nearly 1.3 million victims and their children depending on these sources of haven, the re-authorization of the FVPSA is essential for expanding upon critical relief programs and raising public awareness about the prevalence of domestic violence in the United States.
WHY IT MATTERS:
As the 117th Congress heads to a close, it is critical that Senate re-authorization of the FVPSA gets approved this week. This program supports life-saving services for millions of victims of domestic violence. FVPSA-funded programs offer extensive services to victims of family violence, like emergency shelters, crisis counseling, legal advocacy, safety planning, and assistance recovering from financial abuse or housing insecurity. FVPSA also allocates funding towards national hotlines, like the National Domestic Violence Hotline and StrongHeart Native Helpline, offering 24/7 service to survivors of domestic, family, and dating violence.
Take Action
The FVPSA has not been reauthorized since 2010, making it susceptible to federal funding cuts and neglect in expanding services. We need your help in getting this legislation approved before the end of the 117th Congress. Contact your senators to voice your support for the Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act, S. 1275 and encourage them to vote in favor of its passage. Please ask them to urge Senate leadership to schedule a floor vote this week.
How Do I Do It?
You can find your Senators’ contact information at U.S. Senate: Senators. Please call today or email them via their Senate websites and to urge that FVPSA be approved in the next few days.
What Do I Say?
“I am calling Senator [NAME] to ask her/him to urge Senate leadership to schedule a floor vote this week for the Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act, S. 1275. The FVPSA is an essential piece of legislation for survivors of domestic abuse and violence to access safety and rehabilitation services. Final passage of this bill is crucial to address the prevalence of domestic violence and ensure the expansion of protective services for women and children victims of family violence.”
Thanks for all that you do for women’s rights.