Violence Against Women Act of 2005

The Violence Against Women Act of 2005 was signed into law in January 2006. The bill authorizes $3.9 billion to support the program, including major enhancements, for the next five years. However, this bill does not actually provide the funding: it is just the first step, setting an upper spending limit. For each of the 5 years of the bill, Congress will need to pass legislation appropriating the specific amount of funds that the government will provide for each of the VAWA programs. There is no guarantee that Congress will appropriate the $3.9 billion that was authorized, or even the minimum amount that is needed.

The war in Iraq, budget cuts, and other major expenses have resulted in less money for human services programs such as VAWA. President Bush's 2007 budget for VAWA does not include enough money for many of the previously established VAWA programs and services, so that it is unlikely that Congress will include adequate funding for the new programs that VAWA 2005 intended for 2006-2010. Despite the overwhelming Congressional votes for VAWA, that does not mean that the same Congress will vote for adequate funding to support the programs. Very strong public support of VAWA will be necessary to convince Congress to provide adequate funding through the appropriations bill for FY 2007 (which starts on October 1, 2006).

Now is a key time in the appropriations process. If you support programs to help victims of violence and to prevent violence, it is important to email your U.S. Senators and member of Congress asking for full funding of VAWA and protection of the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA).

Created in 1984, VOCA protects the rights of violent crimes victims and provides financial compensation, assistance, and services to those victims as well. VOCA covers victims of violent crimes such as sexual assault, rape, abuse, dating violence, and terrorism. Through the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) and the Crime Victims Fund, both established by VOCA, federal funding is allotted to national, state, and local organizations to directly aid violent crimes victims. The Crime Victims Fund collects fines, penalties, bond money, and funds from crime offenders to support these grants, so no taxpayer money is used. However, each year Congress puts a "cap" on the Crime Victims Fund, which means they limit how much of the collected fines and other money will be given to the victims. Congress decides on the amount during the appropriations process, so it is important that you let your representatives know that VOCA needs full funding.

Here are some web sites where you can get more information, including sample letters:

www.ncadv.org		National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
www.nnedv.org		National Network to End Domestic Violence
www.ncvc.org		National Center for Victims of Crime
www.navaa.org		National Association of VOCA Assistance Administrators
www.endabuse.org		Family Violence Prevention Fund

Background

In June 2005, Congress introduced the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) of 2005, bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the VAWA legislation originally passed in 1994. Since VAWA first became law in 1994, more than 660 state laws protecting victims of domestic violence and sexual assault have been passed, and VAWA 2005 has an even more comprehensive approach to the problem of violence. ¹ The legislation is called a re-authorization because it provides new authority for an existing law. The House passed VAWA with an overwhelming 415-4 vote for approval on September 8, followed by unanimous Senate approval on October 4. President Bush signed the bill into law on January 5, 2006, continuing it for five more years. VAWA could provide nearly $3.9 billion dollars of funding over the next five years to combat and prevent violence against women. However, it is up to the Congress to pass the needed funding every year.

Rather than keep the law exactly as it had been, Congress expanded the scope of the bill in several ways. Specifically, VAWA now helps protect child victims of violence, immigrant and minority populations, and men and boys. The law focuses on education and prevention, creating training programs for law enforcement officials, health care providers, housing providers, and men and boys to help stop the generational cycle of abuse and sexual assault. Further, VAWA extends services and legal protection for women in housing and employment, and revamps the legal system to make it more accessible and beneficial for the victims. Additionally, the law establishes crisis services for victims of rape and sexual assault.

The new law focuses on four areas of crime; domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. However, these programs will only be reality if Congress provides adequate funding every year.

Highlights of the recently approved VAWA include: