You did it!! We now have 61 Sponsors in the Senate!

Thanks to Senator Heller (R-NV) and Senator Ayotte (R-NH) who signed on to sponsor VAWA this week, we now have 61 sponsors!  Thank you for all your hard work! 

Now we need to secure our sponsors’ commitment to S. 1925, the real VAWA, and to get as many new Senate supporters as possible.  VAWA is coming to the Senate Floor and we need to have as big an outpouring of support as we can!  This week, we want you to help us by signing petitions, engaging your friends and family and getting the word out that every Senator needs to hear from you and your loved ones about why VAWA must be passed immediately. 

Things are moving quickly – so “like” our Facebook page to get up to the minute information and make sure to visit the 4vawa.org website often.

TAKE ACTION TODAY!

Action 1:  Ask your FRIENDS and FAMILY to call both of their senators’ D.C. offices today  and ask them vote YES on S. 1925 the real VAWA:

I urge Senator _____ to support the Violence Against Women Act and vote YES on S. 1925 AS IS. Don’t use VAWA as a political tool – pass it now so that all survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking can get the support they need!

Action 2:  Ask all the men you know to sign a petition supporting VAWA

VAWA is everyone’s issue.  Help us engage more men by asking the men you know and love to sign the 10,000 Men for VAWA petition.

Check out the fact sheets, press coverage, support letters on our website. 

Don’t forget to tweet about VAWA using the hashtags #ReauthorizeVAWA and #VAWA.

If you aren't on one of the VAWA email lists or want to add members of your staff or state/community leaders to our grassroots alerts e-mailing list, send names and contact information including email to Sean Black, sblack@icasa.org.

VAWA may be on the Senate Floor THIS week!

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) plans to bring VAWA, S.1925, to the Senate Floor very, very soon—possibly *this* week!

We still need everyone who cares about VAWA to call their senators and urge them to vote YES on VAWA!

Action:  Call both of your senators’ D.C. offices today and ask them vote YES on VAWA:

I urge Senator _____ to support the Violence Against Women Act and vote YES on S.1925 AS IS. A vote for VAWA is a vote for women and for all victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking.

Also, check out our Facebook page where you can find a toolkit and other action and information items. And when you tweet about VAWA, be sure to use hashtags #ReauthorizeVAWA and #VAWA.

If you aren't on one of the VAWA email lists or want to add members of your staff or state/community leaders to our grassroots alerts e-mailing list, send names and contact information including email to Sean Black, sblack@icasa.org.

The Time to Act is NOW for Senate vote on VAWA!

Congratulations on your fantastic advocacy efforts! Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has agreed to bring VAWA, S. 1925, to the Senate Floor very, very soon—possibly next week! And Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) became a co-sponsor of VAWA yesterday bringing our total co-sponsors to 59! We now need everyone who cares about VAWA to call their senators and urge them to vote YES on VAWA!

ACTION: Call both of your senators’ D.C. offices today and ask them vote YES on VAWA:

I urge Senator _____ to support the Violence Against Women Act and vote YES on S. 1925 AS IS. A vote for VAWA is a vote for women and for all victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking.

Continue to visit our website for updates, fact sheets, press coverage, and support letters.

Check out and “like” our Facebook page where you can find a toolkit and other action and information items:

Don’t forget to tweet about VAWA using the hashtags #ReauthorizeVAWA and #VAWA.

If you aren't on one of the VAWA email lists or want to add members of your staff or state/community leaders to our grassroots alerts e-mailing list, send names and contact information including email to Sean Black, sblack@icasa.org.

EMERGENCY CALLS NEEDED BEFORE TOMORROW MORNING!!

Important tribal improvements for Native women are under attack.

TAKE ACTION in the next 24 hours

1. EMERGENCY – CALLS NEEDED BEFORE TOMORROW MORNING.  Please call members of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee IMMEDIATELY and encourage them to support S.1925, especially if you live in Wyoming, Arizona, Alaska, North Dakota, Idaho, or Nebraska!  
2. LET’S GET THOSE LAST TWO SPONSORS IN THE SENATE.   S.1925, the “real” VAWA, has 59 Senate sponsors!!!  We have set March 20^th—the first day of spring - to reach our goal of 60 filibuster-proof sponsors so we have 1 more to go.  We only need two more – and we need your help!  We can do this!  If your Senator is not a VAWA sponsor, call them at their Hill office, ask for the staff person who handles VAWA and offer to help them convince their Senator to sponsor S. 1925. 
3. Ask Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to schedule a vote on VAWA.
4. Tweet for VAWA. Join the twitter carnival for #ReauthorizeVAWA on Wednesday, March 14^th at 12pm EDT, 11am CDT, 10am MDT, 9am PDT

Action 1. Call your Senator, especially if you live in Wyoming, Arizona, Alaska, North Dakota, Idaho, or Nebraska!   When you call, tell your Senator, "The tribal provisions in Section 904 of S.1925 are absolutely critical to ensure the safety of Native women and their access to safety and equal justice." More talking points on the tribal provisions can be found here.  For more information, Katy Jackman, Katy_Jackman@NCAI.org National Congress of American Indians 202.466.7767, ext. 232

Action 2:  If  your Senator is one of the 42 who are NOT sponsors of VAWA,  call their office today and ask them to co-sponsor S. 1925. VAWA needs two more sponsors and many more supporters.  Please contact the below Senators – they are either former sponsors or have expressed interest or support for VAWA currently or in the past.  Ask them to sponsor S. 1925 and if they cannot, ask them to pledge their support when it comes to the Senate floor in the weeks ahead.  Here are a few messaging points you can share:

"A lot of misinformation is being circulated by the bills detractors about S. 1925, the real VAWA.  I want to set the record straight: 1.  Since VAWA first passed, the number of individuals killed by an intimate partner has decreased by 34% for women and 57% for men. VAWA has saved lives while saving money, saving $12.6 billion in its first 6 years alone.2.  S. 1925 saves money by consolidating and repealing more than 15 programs, ensuring more funding will go directly to needed victim services rather than grant administration. 3.  S. 1925 adopts almost word-for-word the accountability measures developed by Senator Grassley for the Trafficking Victims Reauthorization Act. 4.  S. 1925 does not create “new victims” or support “special interests.”  The real VAWA protects all victims of these crimes, regardless of their age, gender, race, citizenship, sexuality, or faith. 5. Our nation must not say, "There are too many victims” or “You are not the ‘right’ kind of victim.” All victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking deserve help.  That’s what S. 1925, the real VAWA, does.  Please support VAWA’s reauthorization.  Thank you.”

• Cochran, Thad - (R - MS) (202) 224-5054 Judiciary LA: Carlisle Clarke, Women's Issues LA: Elyse Marcellino
• Cornyn, John - (R - TX) 202) 224-2934 Judiciary LA: Matt Johnson, Women's Issues LA: Michelle Chin
• Hutchison, Kay Bailey - (R - TX) (202) 224-5922 Judiciary and Women’s issues LA: Jenifer Healy
• Alexander, Lamar - (R – TN (202) 224-4944 Judiciary LA: Peter Oppenheim, Women's Issues LA: Mary-Sumpter Lapinski
• Ayotte, Kelly - (R – NH (202) 224-3324 Judiciary LA: John Lawrence, Women's Issues LA: Daniel Auger
• Enzi, Michael B. - (R - WY) (202) 224-3424 Judiciary LA: Wendy Gnehm, Women's Issues LA: Travis Jordan
• Graham, Lindsey - (R - SC) (202) 224-5972 Judiciary and Women’s Issues LA: Walt Kuhn
• Heller, Dean - (R - NV) (202) 224-6244 Judiciary and Women’s Issues LA: Leeann Gibson
• Kyl, Jon - (R - AZ) (202) 224-4521 Judiciary LA: Stephen Higgins, Women's Issues LA: Elizabeth Maier
• Lugar, Richard G. - (R – IN) (202) 224-4814 Judiciary and Women’s Issues LA: Joe O'Donnell
• McConnell, Mitch - (R - KY) Minority Leader  (202) 224-2541 Judiciary LA: Russell Coleman,  Women’s, Native American and Child/Family Issues LA: Sarah Arbes
• Moran, Jerry - (R - KS)  (202) 224-6521 Judiciary LA: Darby O'Donnell, Women: Brian Perkins, Native American Affairs: Jesse Rundle     
• Portman, Rob - (R - OH)  (202) 224-3353 Judiciary and Women’s Issues LA: Aja Brooks, Native American Affairs LA: Stephen Kittredge
• Risch, James E. - (R – ID (202) 224-2752 Judiciary LA: Brianne Miller,Women LA: Rebecca Cotton, Native American  LA: Darren Parker
• Toomey, Patrick J. - (R - PA) (202) 224-4254 Judiciary & Women LA: Tessie Abraham, Native American Affairs LA: Mitch Vidovich

Action 3: Call Senator Reid’s office with this message: “Thank you for sponsoring VAWA!  We need Senator Reid to continue to be our champion for the whole country. Please schedule S. 1925 for a floor vote as soon as possible.”

• If you are not from Nevada 202-224-3542 DC office
• If you are from Nevada: 775-686-5750 Reno office

Action 4:  Participate in the #ReauthorizeVAWA Twitter Carnival on Wednesday, March 14th at 12pm EDT, 11am CDT, 10am MDT, 9am PDT

• Thank @SenatorLeahy & #SenatorCrapo 4 leading the way to #ReauthorizeVAWA! 4vawa.org RT
• Your colleagues need encouragement @USSenScottBrown. Tell us Y U support S.1925 to #ReauthorizeVAWA! 4vawa.org RT
• Hey @senatortester MT thanks U 4 co-sponsoring S.1925 to #ReauthorizeVAWA! RT
• #ReauthorizeVAWA! 58 senators know what's right. Pass S.1925! #VAWA RT
• Hey Senator @lisamurkowski, tell us Y U support S.1925 to #ReauthorizeVAWA! 4vawa.org RT
• Hey Senator @robportman OH wants U 2 help pass S.1925 to #ReauthorizeVAWA! 4vawa.org
• 58 Senators R co-sponsoring S.1925 to #ReauthorizeVAWA.  Is ur senator 1 of them? RT
• Violence is unacceptable @SenAlexander. Co-sponsor S.1925 to #ReauthorizeVAWA! 4vawa.org
• 3 cheers for @SenatorCollins 4 co-sponsoring S.1925 to #ReauthorizeVAWA! RT
• What R U waiting for Senator @KellyAyotte? Sign on to S.1925 to #ReauthorizeVAWA! RT
• Let's do the right thing @senatorlugar. Please co-sponsor S.1925 to #ReauthorizeVAWA now!
• Hey @SenatorSnowe, Y aren’t U a co-sponsor of S.1925 to #ReauthorizeVAWA?! 4vawa.org RT
• Thank U @SenatorKirk 4 co-sponsoring the real #VAWA, S.1925! #ReauthorizeVAWA! RT
• Help end the violence @SenJonKyl. Co-sponsor S.1925 to #ReauthorizeVAWA! 4vawa.org
• Thank U @Sen_JoeManchin for co-sponsoring S.1925 to #ReauthorizeVAWA! RT
• Hey Senators co-sponsor S.1925 2 #ReauthorizeVAWA w/ @SenatorLeahy & #SenatorCrapo in the lead. 4vawa.org
• Hey UT @SenMikeLee needs encouragement 2 co-sponsor S.1925 to #ReauthorizeVAWA! 4vawa.org
• Senator @DeanHeller, NV needs U 2 do the right thing & co-sponsor S.1925 to #ReauthorizeVAWA! RT
• Senator @GrahamBlog 58 senators already co-sponsor S.1925 to #ReauthorizeVAWA! SC wants U 2 be 1 of them!
• We need 2 #ReauthorizeVAWA now!  Co-sponsor S.1925, the @SenatorLeahy & #SenatorCrapo bill. 4vawa.org
• Senator @TomCoburn, OK wants U 2 do the right thing & co-sponsor S.1925 to #ReauthorizeVAWA!
• VA thanks U Senator @MarkWarner 4 co-sponsoring S.1925 to #ReauthorizeVAWA! RT
• CO thanks U Senator @MarkUdall 4 co-sponsoring S.1925 to #ReauthorizeVAWA! 4vawa.org
• OR thanks U @SenJeffMerkley 4 co-sponsoring S.1925 to #ReauthorizeVAWA! 4vawa.org
• 58 senators are co-sponsoring the real #VAWA, S.1925! Let's get it to 60! #ReauthorizeVAWA RT
• OH thanks U @SenSherrodBrown 4 co-sponsoring S.1925 to #ReauthorizeVAWA! RT
• CO thanks U @SenBennetCO 4 co-sponsoring S.1925 to #ReauthorizeVAWA! 4vawa.org
• Hey @SenatorSnowe, ME wants to know Y ur not a co-sponsor of S.1925 to #ReauthorizeVAWA! 4vawa.org
• Thank U @SenMarkPryor for co-sponsoring S.1925 to #ReauthorizeVAWA! RT
• NE thanks U @SenBenNelson 4 co-sponsoring S.1925 to #ReauthorizeVAWA! RT
• CT thanks U Senator @JoeLieberman 4 co-sponsoring S.1925 to #ReauthorizeVAWA! RT
• HI thanks U Senator @Daniel_Inouye 4 co-sponsoring S.1925 to #ReauthorizeVAWA! RT
• Hey Senator @kaybaileyhutch, TX wants U 2 co-sponsor S.1925 to #ReauthorizeVAWA! 4vawa.org
• Where is ur conscience Senator @OrrinHatch? Co-sponsor S.1925 to #ReauthorizeVAWA! RT
• Senator @ChuckGrassley, IA expects U 2 support the real #VAWA, S.1925! #ReauthorizeVAWA! RT
• Senator @JohnCornyn, TX expects U 2 support the real #VAWA, S.1925! #ReauthorizeVAWA! RT
• DE thanks U @SenatorCarper 4 co-sponsoring S.1925 to #ReauthorizeVAWA! RT
• HI thanks U @SenatorAkaka 4 co-sponsoring S.1925 to #ReauthorizeVAWA! RT
• #VAWA rocks! And so do you @SenatorLeahy & #SenatorCrapo! #ReauthorizeVAWA now! RT

HUGE thanks to all who all who have been tweeting and retweeting about VAWA.  Now we need to make #ReauthorizeVAWA a trending topic on twitter. In order to do that we need a lot of people to tweet and retweet messages including the hashtag #ReauthorizeVAWA in a SHORT amount of time. The bigger a splash we can make by sharing this, the better! 

You can help us trend #ReauthorizeVAWA by tweeting this message on Wednesday, March 14^th at noon EST.  If you can’t/won’t be in front of your computers or hand-helds at noon you can still send out the post on twitter at noon by signing up on HootSuite  and scheduling your messages to post on March 14 at noon (just make sure you’re time settings are for EDT).  During the Twitter Carnival, you should also retweet and respond to the twitters of others – always including #ReauthorizeVAWA.  Try following @BreakTheCycleDV for VAWA related tweets that you can retweet during the weekly Twitter Carnivals and all week long.

Check out and “like” our Facebook page where you can find a toolkit and other action and information items.

If you aren't on one of the VAWA email lists or want to add members of your staff or state/community leaders to our grassroots alerts e-mailing list, send names and contact information including email to Sean Black, sblack@icasa.org.

Where are the Rest of the Senate Women?

Make a Difference on International Women's Day by asking the Remaining Women Senators to support VAWA!

Hutchison, Kay Bailey (R - TX):  Call (202) 224-5922 and speak with Jenifer Healy, Judiciary and Women's issues LA.

Snowe, Olympia J. (R - ME):  Call (202) 224-5344 and speak with Amy Pellegrino, Women's Issues LA.

Ayotte, Kelly (R - NH): Call (202) 224-3324 and speak with John Lawrence, Judiciary LA and Daniel Auger, Women's Issues LA.

Today is International Women's Day - a day to celebrate the achievements of women around the world in struggling for equality. To continue the amazing progress women have made in this country, having VAWA pass the Senate is vital. You can make a difference today! We now have 58 sponsors for S. 1925, the "real" VAWA introduced by Senators Leahy (D-VT) and Crapo (R-ID)!!

We need two more sponsors and several more supporters. Listed above is the contact information for the remaining 3 women Senators who have yet to sponsor the bipartisan VAWA.  All are former sponsors or have expressed interest or support for VAWA. Please call and ask them to sponsor S. 1925; or, if they cannot do that, ask them to pledge their support for a clean bill when VAWA comes to the Senate floor in the weeks ahead.

We must do this to protect the rights of women and girls everywhere! And what a better day than today for our advocacy.  Please help by urging the women senators to support VAWA and take action on behalf of women and girls for International Women's Day!

Action: Call and ask the remaining women senators to pledge their support for VAWA:

"In honor of International Women's Day, please add your support to S. 1925, the VAWA bill. We need your sponsorship and support in championing the rights of the nation's women and girls through this critical legislation. VAWA stands for the progress of women's equality that International Women's Day recognizes."

Call Senator Reid’s Office Today!

We now have 58 sponsors for S. 1925, the “real” VAWA introduced by Senators Leahy (D-VT) and Crapo (R-ID)!!  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) signed on as a sponsor this week!!!  We have set March 20^th—the first day of spring - to reach our goal of 60 filibuster-proof sponsors so we have 2 more to go!  We can do this! 

Action: Call Senator Reid’s office to thank him and urge him to get VAWA to the floor for a vote:

“Thank you for sponsoring VAWA!  We need Senator Reid to continue to be our champion for the whole country.  Please schedule S. 1925 for a floor vote as soon as possible.”

If you are not from Nevada call the DC office: 202-224-3542
If you are from Nevada call the Reno office:  775-686-5750

TELL CONGRESS THAT S. 1925, THE REAL VAWA, IS EVERYONE’S VAWA AND MUST BE PASSED!

S. 1925, the “real” VAWA, has 57 Senate sponsors - Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR) signed on as a sponsor today!!!  We have set March 20^th—the first day of spring—to reach our goal of 60 filibuster-proof sponsors.  We have 3 more to go.  Last week, Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Mark Udall (D-CO) signed.  Please thank our 3 new co-sponsors!  We can do this! 

VAWA has always been intended to serve ALL survivors.  Every version of the bill since 1994 has worked to improve awareness about and expansion of prevention programs and the provision of services that included all victims of sexual, domestic, dating and stalking violence. 

Read more about how S. 1925 enhances protections for underserved populations on our VAWA Fact Sheets page. Underserved populations are those who are provided with inadequate or non-existent services.  Since 1994, VAWA has been about opening doors for all victims of sexual and domestic violence who have historically been ignored or provided with inadequate or substandard treatment and services – whether due to insufficient funds and scarce resources or discriminatory practices. The Leahy/Crapo Bill (S.1925) continues this intent by offering a gateway for greater reach to all victims by: an improved definition of underserved; an enhanced underserved populations grant program; and specific supports throughout VAWA for underserved populations. When you talk with your Senators, please tell them to support S. 1925 because it opens doors for all victims! 

TAKE ACTION TODAY!

Suggested actions for this week include:

1. Reach our goal for 60 Senate co-sponsors!  If your Senator is not a VAWA sponsor, call them at their Hill office, ask for the staff person who handles VAWA and offer to help them convince their Senator to sponsor S. 1925. 
2. Ask Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to schedule a vote on VAWA!
3. Tweet for VAWA – Join the twitter carnival for #ReauthorizeVAWA on Wednesday, March 7^th at 12pm EST, 11am CST, 10am MST, 9am PST

Action 1:  If  your Senator is one of the 43 who are NOT sponsors of VAWA, call their office today and ask them to co-sponsor S. 1925: When you call, tell your Senator that only S. 1925 represents real, critical, lifesaving protections for ALL victims and all other versions fall short. Check out our new talking points here about why S. 1925 is the only REAL VAWA. Go to the THOMAS (Library of Congress), select search by bill number, and type in the bill S.1925 for a list of sponsors and thank your Senator if he/she is already a co-sponsor.  Don’t panic if the latest sponsors aren’t there – it takes a few days for their names to be posted.

Suggested Senators who should be a VAWA sponsor:

6 Senators have been VAWA sponsors in the past.  Maybe they just need to be reminded and for sure they need to be persuaded. VAWA programs and services are under-funded and under attack.  It’s time to step up for victims of sexual assault and dating, domestic and stalking violence.  Cochran, Thad  (R-MS), Cornyn, John (R-TX), Grassley, Chuck (R-IA), Hatch, Orrin (R-UT), Hutchison, Kay Bailey (R-TX),  Snowe, Olympia (R-ME)

There are Senators who have expressed interest in (or should care about) VAWA and some have been supportive of program funding and services in the past. Ask them to step up to this crisis: Alexander, Lamar (R-TN), Ayotte, Kelly  (R-NH), Enzi, Michael (R-WY), Graham, Lindsey (R-SC), Heller, Dean (R-NV), Kyl, Jon  (R-AZ), and Lugar, Richard (R-IN).

Action 2: Call Senator Reid’s office with this message:

“We need Senator Reid to continue to be our champion for the whole country. Please sponsor the Violence Against Women Act and schedule S. 1925 for a floor vote as soon as possible.”

If you are not from Nevada call the DC office:  202-224-3542 DC
If you are from Nevada call the Reno office: 775-686-5750

Action 3: Participate in the #ReauthorizeVAWA Twitter Carnival on Wednesday, March 7th at 12pm EST, 11am CST, 10am MST, 9am PST

HUGE thanks to all who all who have been tweeting about VAWA.  Now we need to make #ReauthorizeVAWA a trending topic on twitter. In order to do that we need a lot of people to tweet messages including the hashtag #ReauthorizeVAWA in a SHORT amount of time.

The bigger a splash we can make by sharing this, the better! 
You can help us trend #ReauthorizeVAWA by tweeting this message on Wednesday, January 18th at noon EST.  Here are some sample tweets:

• We urge all Senators to support the real #VAWA that helps all victims- S. 1925. #ReauthorizeVAWA now! 4vawa.org

• Bring the real VAWA to the Senate floor for a vote NOW. #ReauthorizeVAWA now! 4vawa.org

If you can’t/won’t be in front of your computers or hand-helds at noon you can still send out the post on twitter at noon by signing up at Hoot Suite  and scheduling your message to post on March 7 at noon (just make sure you’re time settings are for EST).  During the Twitter Carnival, you should also retweet and respond to the twitters of others – always including #ReauthorizeVAWA.

Thanks for the terrific tweets already out there! 

Also, be sure to check out and “like” our Facebook page where you can find a toolkit and other action and information items.

If you aren't on one of the VAWA email lists or want to add members of your staff or state/community leaders to our grassroots alerts e-mailing list, send names and contact information including email to Sean Black, sblack@icasa.org.

Ask Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to schedule a vote on VAWA!

BREAKING NEWS: Thanks to Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Mark Udall (D-CO), we now have 56 sponsors for S. 1925!!!  Because we are SURE that we’ll get 60 in the weeks ahead, we now need to ask Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to schedule a Senate floor vote SOON.  We know that we have the votes, and we need to move this bipartisan VAWA before the rancor of election year politics ties up both Houses of Congress!

Call Senator Reid’s office with this message:

“We need Senator Reid to continue to be our champion for the whole country.  Please sponsor the Violence Against Women Act and schedule S. 1925 for a floor vote as soon as possible.”

If you are not from Nevada 202-224-3542 DC office

If you are from Nevada: 775-686-5750 Reno office

Thank you from all victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking who have no voice and need our support!

To see if your Senator has signed on to VAWA, click here, select search by bill number, and type in S. 1925 in the search box.  The Senate has been out of session for a week so any new sponsors may not have been added.

This week is: THANK YOUR MEMBER OF CONGRESS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF VAWA WEEK

S.1925, the “real” VAWA, has 54 Senate sponsors!!!  We have set March 20^th—the first day of spring to reach our goal of 60 filibuster-proof sponsors.  Last week, Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) signed on so we are only 6 senators shy of our goal!

We can do it! 

In the meantime, everyone needs to thank the 54 Senate champions and thank your Representative for speaking out in support of VAWA, for being a champion in the past and/or for being willing to work with Judiciary Chairmen Lamar Smith (R-TX) and John Conyers (D-MI) .

TAKE ACTION TODAY!

Suggested actions for this week include:

1. Let’s get to 60 co-sponsors of S. 1925!  Both the House and Senate are back in DC this week, so if your Senator is not a VAWA sponsor, call them at their Hill office, ask for the staff person who handles VAWA and offer to help them convince their Senator to sponsor S.1925. 
2. Use the local media and press to thank your Members who are supportive and to wonder why the others are not on board. 
3. Ask for meetings or conference calls with your House member to discuss VAWA.  The bill may be introduced in the next 3-4 weeks and we want everyone on board. 

Action 1:  If  your Senator is one of the 46 who are NOT sponsors of VAWA, call their office today  and ask them to co-sponsor S.1925.  Click here for their contact info.   When you call, tell your Senator that only S.1925 represents real, critical, lifesaving protections for ALL victims and all other versions fall short. Check out our new talking points here to find out why S.1925 is the only REAL VAWA. For a list of sponsors, click here and type in the bill S.1925.  Please thank your Senator if he/she is already a co-sponsor.  Don’t panic if the latest sponsors aren’t there – it takes a few days for their names to be posted. 

Suggested Senators who should be a VAWA sponsor: 7 Senators have been VAWA sponsors in the past. Maybe they just need to be reminded and for sure they need to be persuaded.  VAWA programs and services are under-funded and under attack.  It’s time to step up for victims of sexual assault and dating, domestic and stalking violence.  Cochran, Thad  (R - MS), Cornyn, John (R - TX), Grassley, Chuck (R - IA), Hatch, Orrin (R - UT), Hutchison, Kay Bailey (R – TX),  Pryor, Mark (D - AR), Snowe, Olympia (R - ME).

There is one new Senator who OUGHT to be a sponsor of VAWA!  Please contact him today: Udall, Mark (D - CO),  and others who have expressed interest in VAWA and have been supportive of program funding and services in the past. Ask them to step up to this crisis: Alexander, Lamar (R – TN), Ayotte, Kelly - (R - NH), Enzi, Michael (R – WY), Graham, Lindsey (R - SC), Heller, Dean (R – NV), Kyl, Jon - (R - AZ),  Lugar, Richard (R - IN), and Manchin, Joe (D - WV). 

Action 2: As part of our thank you effort, make sure your thanks get into the local paper or on the web. Good examples of state and local organizations and coalitions issuing press releases and web spots featuring VAWA’s champions can be seen below:

• In Texas, the state DV and SA coalitions issued a joint statement:  CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE LAMAR SMITH AND CONGRESSMAN TED POE HIGHLIGHT SUCCESSES OF THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT IN TEXAS AND SUPPORT VAWA REAUTHORIZATION and highlighted important public statements by their state’s Members: Chairman Smith noted his continuing strong support of VAWA since initial passage in 1994, and he further declared, “It is essential that programs like these are in place to protect victims not just from physical bruises but from the emotional and mental scars as well.  Funding through VAWA has helped women escape abuse and rebuild their lives.” Congressman Poe reflected on his experience as a long time judge in Harris County: “I remember when domestic violence was treated by law enforcement as a family problem, not as social health issue or a crime.  I am glad we have moved away from that concept.  We’re not talking about statistics here, we’re talking about real people that are hurt by others who claim they love these people.”

• In Delaware,  the state DV coalition joined with a county Police Lieutenant Teresa Williams and VAWA sponsor Senator Chris Coons to promote VAWA. Click here to see the coverage.   
  

Action 3: Continue thanking and talking to members of the House Judiciary Committee – they are the ones who will vote on VAWA and determine its content. Especially thank Representatives present at the House Judiciary Hearing on Thursday, February 16 and ask them to support REAL VAWA reauthorization! All members present (Chair Sensenbrenner (R-WI), Minority Leader Scott (D-VA), and Reps. Poe (R-TX), Adams (R-FL), Gowdy (R-SC), Chu (D-CA), Johnson (D-GA), and Chaffetz (R-UT)) had something positive to say about VAWA. We were all particularly moved by Rep. Gowdy’s statement. You can view the webcast here (go to 1:05 to listen to Congressman Gowdy’s comments). Listen to your representative’s testimony, thank them for attending the hearing, and urge them to support the REAL VAWA! Whether your Judiciary Committee Rep attended or not, call them today with this message: “Support REAL VAWA reauthorization!” The House needs to hear a loud and clear message from advocates NOW that only the language in S.1925 represents REAL VAWA reauthorization. Anything less fails to meet the needs of ALL victims. Use our talking points on this issue when you make your call.

Set up meetings in your state or ask for a conference call with your Representative or a senior staff person to talk with you and other VAWA supporters. In Joliet, IL, local advocates met with Congresswoman Judy Biggert (R-IL) and heard positive support from her and reported the meeting to the local paper.  Click here to read the story.  

To see if your Senator has signed on to VAWA, click here go to  and type in S.1925 in the bill search box.  The Senate has been out of session for a week so any new sponsors may not have been added.

ACT NOW to pass the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization & Protect the lives of Indian Women!!

The Violence Against Women Act has always had as its core mission to protect and serve ALL victims of intimate partner violence and to tear down barriers that stand in the way of victim safety and access to justice.  S.1925 is no different, particularly when it comes to Native women.  S.1925 contains language that would remove some of the systemic barriers that prevent American Indian and Alaska Native victims from bringing their perpetrators to justice.  These tribal improvements included in VAWA are also contained within S. 1763, the Stand Against Violence & Empower Native Women Act (SAVE Native Women Act) and they are essential to the safety of Native women.

TAKE ACTION TODAY!

Action 1: Call your Senator, especially if they are VAWA sponsors or have Indian tribes in their state who they care about.  Ask them to sponsor S.1763, the SAVE Native Women Act!

Violence against Native women has reached epidemic proportions. Native women are 2.5 times more likely than other U.S. women to be battered, raped, or stalked: 34% of Native women will be raped in their lifetimes and 39% will be the victim of domestic violence.   This statistical reality leaves young Native women wondering not “if” they will be raped, but “when.”

The U.S. Department of Justice has found that the current system of justice, in which tribal governments have no authority over non-Indian perpetrators committing these crimes on tribal lands, is “inadequate to stop the pattern of escalating violence against Native women.” Currently, in most cases, the federal government has exclusive responsibility to investigate and prosecute major and minor on-reservation crimes. Despite this obligation, a 2010 GAO report shows that there is no prosecution in 67% of sexual assaults in Indian country.  S. 1763 and Title IX of S. 1925 will address violence at the early stages by giving victims access to justice in the local tribal court—where authorities are closest to the crime and best equipped to handle these prosecutions. 

S. 1763, the SAVE Native Women Act attempts to enhance the safety of Native women by:

1)    giving tribes more local control to investigate and prosecute crimes of domestic violence, dating violence, and violations of protection orders that occur in Indian country regardless of the perpetrator’s race;

2)    clarifying that tribes have full civil authority to issue and enforce orders of protection against all persons on tribal lands; and

3)    increasing support for Tribal Domestic and Sexual Assault Coalitions.

While VAWA (S. 1925) has 54 sponsors, S.1763 has just 13 co-sponsors. Please call your Senators and urge them to co-sponsor S.1763, the SAVE Native Women Act! 

Click here to contact your Senators.  

Action 2: Call or write your House representative and tell them you strongly support the tribal amendments, especially those found in S.1925.

S.1925, the VAWA Reauthorization that passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on February 7^th has achieved broad, bipartisan support, contains the same key tribal amendments as those contained in the SAVE Native Women Act.  These provisions will greatly improve the safety of Native women while holding perpetrators in Indian country accountable regardless of the perpetrator’s race.  These critical tribal provisions were carefully crafted in consultation and collaboration with tribal leaders and victims’ advocates.  The tribal provisions have been the subject of extensive hearings by the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.

The House of Representatives will be introducing a companion bill to S.1925 in coming weeks.  Please call your Representatives today and ask them reinforce their support for VAWA and help address violence in Indian country by supporting inclusion of the tribal provisions in the House VAWA as well. Remind them that VAWA is a critical tool for Indian tribes to respond to the epidemic rates of domestic violence and sexual assault on tribal lands.   If they have questions, tell them to contact Katy Jackman at the National Congress of American Indians at kjackman@ncai.org.

Action 3: Take time to learn the facts about the tribal provisions of VAWA so that you can educate others on these critical provisions.

Indian issues and the specific set of laws surrounding them are very complex and can be intimidating to the untrained eye.  It is important that you have accurate and up-to-date information about the tribal amendments and their effects so that you can educate others on the significance of these proposals.  Take time to review briefing papers, fact sheets, and news articles about the tribal provisions of VAWA on this website.  The U.S. Department of Justice has studied the crisis of violence against Native women extensively and their specific recommendations for better protecting Native women—which are included in S.1925 and S.1763—are available on the NTF website for your review as well.  These documents are particularly helpful if you want a more in-depth view of the public safety situation on tribal lands and the need for improvements of the kind proposed. 

Now is the time for all of us to stand together to end violence against Native women—and all girls and women, boys and men.

Spring into Action - Help us Pass VAWA

Thank you Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Mark Udall (D-CO) for joining Senator Tom Carper (D-DE), Senator Nelson (D-FL), Senator Brown (D-OH), Senator Inouye (D-HI), Senator Merkley (D-OR), Senator Warner (D-VA) and 48 other Senators for supporting VAWA.  We are half way to reaching our goal.  We have a majority in the Senate, but we need 4 more Senators by March 20th.  We can do it!

Senators Leahy (D-VT) and Crapo (R-ID) want to bring the Violence Against Women Act (S. 1925) to the Senate floor for a vote before April 1 in order to avoid the fray of budget/appropriations/campaign politics. Right now, VAWA has 56 sponsors, including 5 Republicans. BUT we’ll need 60 votes to avoid a filibuster and secure a floor vote and passage.  See below on who needs to hear from us. Together we can reauthorize VAWA!

There are 8 Senators who have been VAWA sponsors in the past. Maybe they just need to be reminded and for sure they need to be persuaded. VAWA programs and services are under-funded and under attack.  It’s time to step up for victims of sexual assault and dating, domestic and stalking violence. Please reach out to these Senators and their staff today: Ayotte, Kelly (R - NH),  Cochran, Thad  (R - MS), Cornyn, John (R - TX), Grassley, Chuck (R - IA), Hatch, Orrin (R - UT), Hutchison, Kay Bailey (R – TX), Pryor, Mark (D - AR), Snowe, Olympia (R - ME)

There are 9 Senators who have expressed interest in VAWA and have been supportive of program funding and services in the past. Ask them to step up to this crisis. Alexander, Lamar (R – TN),Coburn, Tom (R – OK ), Enzi, Michael (R – WY), Graham, Lindsey (R - SC), Heller, Dean (R – NV), Kyl, Jon - (R - AZ), Lee, Mike (R – UT), Lugar, Richard (R - IN)

Please be sure to thank all the Senators who have signed on to support the Reauthorization of VAWA:  Leahy, Patrick J. (D - VT), Akaka, Daniel K. (D - HI), Baucus, Max  (D - MT), Begich, Mark  (D - AK), Bennet, Michael F. (D - CO), Bingaman, Jeff (D - NM), Blumenthal, Richard (D - CT), Boxer, Barbara (D - CA), Brown, Scott P. (R - MA), Cantwell, Maria (D - WA), Cardin, Benjamin L. (D - MD),  Tom Carper (D - DE), Casey, Robert P., Jr. (D - PA), Collins, Susan M. (R - ME), Conrad, Kent  (D - ND), Coons, Christopher A. (D - DE), Crapo, Mike  (R - ID),Durbin, Richard J.  (D - IL), Feinstein, Dianne (D - CA), Franken, Al (D - MN), Gillibrand, Kirsten E. (D - NY), Hagan, Kay R. (D - NC), Harkin, Tom (D - IA), Johnson, Tim (D - SD), Kerry, John F.  (D - MA), Kirk, Mark  (R - IL), Klobuchar, Amy  (D - MN), Kohl, Herb (D - WI), Landrieu, Mary L. (D - LA), Lautenberg, Frank R. (D - NJ), Levin, Carl  (D - MI), Lieberman, Joseph I. (ID - CT), Manchin, Joe (D - WV) McCaskill, Claire - (D - MO), Menendez, Robert (D - NJ), Mikulski, Barbara A. (D - MD), Murkowski, Lisa (R - AK), Murray, Patty  (D - WA), Nelson, Ben  (D - NE), Nelson, Bill (D - FL), Reed, Jack  (D - RI), Rockefeller, John  - (D - WV), Sanders, Bernard  (I - VT), Schumer, Charles E. (D - NY), Shaheen, Jeanne (D - NH), Stabenow, Debbie (D - MI), Tester, Jon (D - MT),Udall, Tom - (D - NM), Webb, Jim - (D - VA),Whitehouse, Sheldon  (D - RI), Wyden, Ron (D - OR)

You can still help even if you don’t live in any of the target states.  Share the 4vawa.org site with your friends and family who live in these target states, and ask them to contact their Senators. Thank you. Together we can Reauthorize VAWA!

CODE RED

HOORAY!!!  We did it!  We met our goal of adding 10 new co-sponsors by Valentine's Day.  Thank you Senator Nelson (D-NE) and Senator Webb (D-VA) for joining, Senator Baucus (D-MT), Senator Bennet (D-CO), Senator Conrad (D-ND), Senator Udall (D-NM), and Senator McCaskill (D-MO) Senator Akaka (D-HI),  Senator Lieberman (D-CT), Senator Tester (D-MT) and the 38 other Senators in supporting the Reauthorization of VAWA!

Now, we just need 10 more by March 1st, and 2 more by the Spring Solstice March 20th. That's 12 more total!  We're on our way! 

Senators Leahy (D-VT) and Crapo (R-ID) want to bring the Violence Against Women Act (S. 1925) to the Senate floor for a vote before April 1 in order to avoid the fray of budget/appropriations/campaign politics. Right now, VAWA has 46 sponsors, including 5 Republicans. BUT we’ll need 60 votes to avoid a filibuster and secure a floor vote and passage.  See below on who needs to hear from us. Together we can reauthorize VAWA!

There are 10 Senators who have been VAWA sponsors in the past. Maybe they just need to be reminded and for sure they need to be persuaded. VAWA programs and services are under-funded and under attack.  It’s time to step up for victims of sexual assault and dating, domestic and stalking violence. Please reach out to these Senators and their staff today:   Carper, Thomas (D - DE),  Cochran, Thad  (R - MS), Cornyn, John (R - TX), Grassley, Chuck (R - IA), Hatch, Orrin (R - UT), Hutchison, Kay Bailey (R – TX), Inouye, Daniel (D - HI)  , Nelson, Bill (D - FL), Pryor, Mark (D - AR), Snowe, Olympia (R - ME)

There are 4 new Senators who OUGHT to be sponsors of VAWA. Talk to them and their staff and tell them about how VAWA has helped promote awareness and support services and needs them to be champions – and sponsors!  Please contact them today:    Brown, Sherrod (D - OH), Merkley, Jeff (D - OR), Udall, Mark (D - CO) , Warner, Mark (D - VA) 

There are 9 Senators who have expressed interest in VAWA and have been supportive of program funding and services in the past. Ask them to step up to this crisis. Alexander, Lamar (R – TN),Coburn, Tom (R – OK ), Enzi, Michael (R – WY), Graham, Lindsey (R - SC), Heller, Dean (R – NV), Kyl, Jon - (R - AZ), Lee, Mike (R – UT), Lugar, Richard (R - IN), Manchin, Joe (D - WV) 

Please be sure to thank all the Senators who have signed on to support the Reauthorization of VAWA:  Leahy, Patrick J. (D - VT), Akaka, Daniel K. (D - HI), Baucus, Max  (D - MT), Begich, Mark  (D - AK), Bennet, Michael F. (D - CO), Bingaman, Jeff (D - NM), Blumenthal, Richard (D - CT), Boxer, Barbara (D - CA), Brown, Scott P. (R - MA), Cantwell, Maria (D - WA), Cardin, Benjamin L. (D - MD), Casey, Robert P., Jr. (D - PA), Collins, Susan M. (R - ME), Conrad, Kent  (D - ND), Coons, Christopher A. (D - DE), Crapo, Mike  (R - ID),Durbin, Richard J.  (D - IL), Feinstein, Dianne (D - CA), Franken, Al (D - MN), Gillibrand, Kirsten E. (D - NY), Hagan, Kay R. (D - NC), Harkin, Tom (D - IA), Johnson, Tim (D - SD), Kerry, John F.  (D - MA), Kirk, Mark  (R - IL), Klobuchar, Amy  (D - MN), Kohl, Herb (D - WI), Landrieu, Mary L. (D - LA), Lautenberg, Frank R. (D - NJ), Levin, Carl  (D - MI), Lieberman, Joseph I. (ID - CT), Menendez, Robert (D - NJ), Mikulski, Barbara A. (D - MD), Murkowski, Lisa (R - AK), Murray, Patty  (D - WA), Reed, Jack  (D - RI), Rockefeller, John  - (D - WV), Sanders, Bernard  (I - VT), Schumer, Charles E. (D - NY), Shaheen, Jeanne (D - NH), Stabenow, Debbie (D - MI), Tester, Jon (D - MT), Whitehouse, Sheldon  (D - RI), Wyden, Ron (D - OR)

You can still help even if you don’t live in any of the target states.  Share the 4vawa.org site with your friends and family who live in these target states, and ask them to contact their Senators. Thank you. Together we can Reauthorize VAWA! 

VAWA Update: Senate Judiciary Passes S. 1925

Thanks to all of our valiant VAWA Supporters, S.1925, the Leahy/Crapo bill to Reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, was passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, Feb.2! 

In the past few days, we’ve called upon activists in every state and territory to help send a strong message to the Senate about the importance of this bill and the various provisions in it.  And you did it – key Senate offices were flooded with calls making it clear that ALL of the VAWA bill is important.  You were not willing to abandon any principle or constituency. Thank you!  You really made a difference!

What exactly passed?

As expected, Senator Leahy offered a “Manager’s Amendment” which replaced the original S.1925 and the new version was accepted by unanimous consent.   The new version  included modifications in response to requests from other Senators and from the field.  It retained key provisions such as the pieces addressing tribal jurisdiction, underserved populations, communities of color and immigration and so many more!  The Amendment retained the funding levels that were in the introduced bill (already reduced to 2000 reauthorization levels) and also retained the “no match” requirement for victim service providers.  Your support made all of this possible. 

There were other amendments offered as well.  Two that passed were an amendment increasing penalties for a third offense of drunk driving and a controversial amendment to instate a mandatory minimum of 5 years in prison for aggravated sexual assault.

Not approved was  an amendment offered by Senator Grassley that would replace all of the Leahy/Crapo bill to reauthorize VAWA.  This Amendment would have weakened and undermined VAWA in many ways including a massive reduction in authorized funding to 40% lower than the Leahy/Crapo bill.  It would have eliminated services and protections from violence for communities of color and LGBTQ communities. It would have stripped historic provisions to improve the ability of tribal governments to hold offenders accountable and re-defined youth eliminating those aged 20 to 24—taking away the ability of advocates to serve the population most at risk of dating violence.  The Amendment would have eliminated the engaging men program that helps men and boys become anti-violence advocates and would greatly reduce the ability of middle schools, high schools and colleges to do prevention education with young people.  Perhaps most offensively and antithetical to all the great work that has been accomplished under VAWA, the Amendment would have eliminated the Office on Violence Against Women.  There was a definite hostility to providing services and programs for the broadest possible groups of victims.  Click here to read (the amendment offered by) Senator Grassley's statement.  

While the destructive Grassley Amendment was defeated in committee, it was a party line vote.  All 8 republican senators on the committee (Grassley-IA, Hatch-UT, Kyl-AZ, Sessions-AL, Graham-SC, Cornyn-TX, Lee-UT and Coburn-OK) voted for the destructive Amendment.  Luckily, all 10 committee democrats (Leahy-VT, Kohl-WI, Feinstein-CA, Schumer-NY, Durbin-IL, Whitehouse-RI, Klobuchar-MN, Franken-MN, Coons-DE and Blumenthal-CT) voted against the Amendment.  Please call these Senators and thank them for their support of VAWA!

What now?

Our efforts to move VAWA along must continue.  We are still asking local, state, tribal and national organizations and agencies to sign on to the letter in support of VAWA. While the dramatic size and breadth of the list of supporters is impressive, we want to continue to add to it until no Member of Congress can possibly oppose the VAWA reauthorization.  Reach out to others in your community and encourage their support.  The current version of the letter can be viewed in the VAWA Supporters Section of 4vawa.org. To add your organization or agency to the list of supporters please email us at reauthorizeVAWA@gmail.com.  

We are also continuing to ask Senators to sign on to co-sponsor S.1925.  Your calls are working!  We’ve had a number of Senators sign on in the past 72 hours and are up to 36 at this writing, including 5 Republicans.  Let’s keep up the pressure.

VAWA Passes Judiciary Committee

VAWA passed committee on a straight party line vote—all R’s voted against—all D’s voted for.

Join our supporters and let's Reauthorize VAWA!

Below is the letter sent to Congress signed by organizations supporting the re-authorization of VAWA.  To add your organization or agency to the list of supporters please email us at reauthorizeVAWA@gmail.com.

March 6, 2012 

Dear Representative:

We, the undersigned organizations, represent millions of victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking, the professionals who serve them, the faith organizations that support them, the schools that educate them, and the businesses and communities that care about them throughout the United States and territories.  On behalf of the victims we represent, we ask that you support the Violence Against Women Act’s (VAWA) reauthorization. 

VAWA’s programs support state, tribal and local efforts to address the pervasive and insidious crimes of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking.  These programs have made great progress towards keeping victims safe and holding perpetrators accountable.  This critical legislation must be reauthorized to ensure a continued response to these crimes.

Since its original passage in 1994, VAWA has dramatically enhanced our nation’s response to violence against women.  More victims report domestic violence to the police and the rate of non-fatal intimate partner violence against women has decreased by 53%.  The sexual assault services program in VAWA helps rape crisis centers keep their doors open to provide the frontline response to victims of rape.  VAWA provides for a coordinated community approach, improving collaboration between law enforcement and victim services providers to better meet the needs of victims.  These comprehensive and cost-effective programs not only save lives, they also save money.  In fact, VAWA saved nearly $12.6 billion in net averted social costs in just its first six years. 

VAWA has unquestionably improved the national response to these terrible crimes.  We urge you to support VAWA’s reauthorization to build upon its successes and continue to enhance our nation’s ability to hold perpetrators accountable and keep victims and their children safe from future harm.

We look forward to working with you throughout the reauthorization process.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Juley Fulcher with Break the Cycle at jfulcher@breakthecycle.org, Rob Valente with the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges at robvalente@dvpolicy.com, or Terri Poore with the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence at tpoore@fcasv.org.

Sincerely,

9to5, National Association of Working Women 

A CALL TO MEN 

ACLU

Alianza-National Latino Alliance to End Domestic Violence 

Alliance of Baptists

Alternatives to Family Violence 

American Association of University Women 

American for Democratic Action

American Civil Liberties Union 

American College of Nurse-Midwives 

American Indian Housing Organization (AICHO) 

American Jewish Committee

American Probation and Parole Association 

American Psychiatric Association 

American Psychological Association

Americans Overseas Domestic Crisis Center

APALA Education Fund

Apostolic Catholic Church

ASHA for Women 

Asian American Justice Center, member of the Asian American Center for Advancing Justice

Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO

Asian & Pacific Islander Institute on Domestic Violence 

ASISTA Immigration Assistance 

Association of Jewish Family and Children’s Agencies 

Association of Prosecuting Attorneys 

Association of Reproductive Health Professionals 

Black Women's Blueprint

Black Women’s Health Imperative 

Black Women's Roundtable

BK Nation

Break the Cycle 

Catholics for Family Peace Committee

Casa de Esperanza: National Latino Network for Healthy Families and Communities 

Christian Reformed Church in North America 

Church of the Brethren 

Clan Star, Inc.

Coalition of Labor Union Women

Common Well Institute International, Inc.

Child Welfare League of America

Daughters of Penelope 

Deaf Abused Women’s Network  

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Dialog on Diversity

Disciples Justice Action Network 

Disciples Women of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 

Domestic Violence Report 

The Episcopal Church

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Evangelicals for Social Action

Faith Trust Institute

Feminist Majority/Feminist Majority Foundation 

First Nations Women’s Alliance

Free the Slaves

Friends Committee on National Legislation

Futures Without Violence (formerly the Family Violence Prevention Fund) 

General Federation of Women’s Clubs 

Global Justice Institute

Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc. 

Hindu American Seva Charities

Human Rights Campaign 

IMA World Health

Indian Law Resource Center 

Institute on Domestic Violence in the African-American Community 

Interfaith Community Against Domestic Violence

International Association of Forensic Nurses 

Islamic Circle of North America

Islamic Relief USA

Islamic Social Services Association- USA

Islamic Society of North America

Japanese American Citizens League 

Jewish Council for Public Affairs 

Jewish Reconstructionist Federation

Jewish Women International 

Joyful Heart Foundation 

Korean American Women In Need (KAN-WIN) 

Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA)

Legal Momentum 

MANA – A National Latina Organization 

Men Can Stop Rape 

Men’s Resources International 

Men Stopping Violence

Mennonite Central Committee US 

Methodist Federation for Social Action 

Metropolitan Community Churches

Muslim Public Affairs Council

National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd 

National Alliance of Women Veterans, Inc 

National Alliance to End Sexual Violence 

National American Indian Court Judges Association 

National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)

National Association of Counties 

National Association of VOCA Assistance Administrators 

National Center for Victims of Crime 

National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence 

National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life 

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence 

National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs 

National Coalition on Black Civic Participation

National Congress of American Indians Violence Against Women Task Force 

National Council of Catholic Women 

National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA 

National Council of Jewish Women 

National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges 

National Council of Negro Women 

National Council of Women’s Organizations 

National Council on Independent Living 

National Dating Abuse Hotline 

National Domestic Violence Hotline 

National Domestic Violence Registry 

National Housing Law Project 

National Institute of Crime Prevention 

National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health 

National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty 

National Legal Aid and Defender Association 

National Network to End Domestic Violence 

National Organization for Women 

National Organization of Asian Pacific Islanders Ending Sexual Violence

National Organization of Black Law Enforcement

National Organization of Black Women Law

National Organization of Sisters of Color Ending Sexual Assault 

National Resource Center on Domestic Violence 

National Resource Sharing Project 

National Urban League

National Women’s Political Caucus 

NETWORK – A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby 

Nursing Network on Violence Against Women International 

Peaceful Families Project 

Pentecostals & Charismatics for Peace & Justice

Planned Parenthood Federation of America 

Praxis International 

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Office of Public Witness

Range Women’s Advocates  

Rape Abuse and Incest National Network 

Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association

Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice 

Safe Havens Interfaith Partnership Against Domestic Violence

Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law 

Security on Campus Inc. 

Service Women’s Action Network 

Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States 

Sisters in Sync 

Stop it Now!

The Episcopal Church

The Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation

The Women’s Collective 

Tribal Law and Policy Institute 

Union for Reform Judaism  

Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations

United Church of Christ 

United Methodist Church (General Board of Church and Society) 

United Methodist Women

Veteran Feminists of America  

VOICE MALE Magazine

Voices of Men 

Wider Opportunities for Women

William Kellibrew Foundation 

Witness Justice 

Women of Color Network 

Women of Reform Judaism

Women’s Information Network 

Women’s Law Project

YWCA USA

Local, State and Tribal Organizations and Agencies

Alabama

AAUW of Alabama

Boaz Alabama Police Department

Calera Police Department 

Rape Response, a program of Crisis Center, Inc.  Birmingham

University of Alabama College of Law Domestic Violence Clinic

YWCA Central Alabama, Birmingham

Alaska

AAUW of Alaska

Alaska  Native Women’s Coalition, Anvik

Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault

Emmonak Women’s Shelter, Emmonak

Sealaska Heritage Institute, Juneau

Yup’ik Women’s Coalition, Emmonak

YWCA Alaska, Anchorage

American Samoa

American Samoa Alliance to End Domestic and Sexual Violence

Arizona 

AAUW of Arizona

Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence 

Colorado River Regional Crisis Shelter

Family Tree Healthcare, Tempe 

Hopi-Tewa Women’s Coalition to End Abuse, Second Mesa

Southern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault, Tucson, AZ

Southwest Indigenous Women’s Coalition, Mesa

Turnaround Coaching, Inc., Gilbert

Walking the Healing Path, Inc., Window Rock

Arkansas

AAUW of Arkansas

Arkansas Coalition Against Domestic Violence 

Arkansas Coalition Against Sexual Assault

Ozark Rape Crisis Center, Clarksville & Harrison

Safe Places, Little Rock

California 

9to5 Bay Area

9to5 Los Angeles

AAUW of California

A Better Way Services, Inc.

Asian Pacific American Legal Center, Member of Asian American Center for Advancing Justice

Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach – San Francisco & Oakland

California Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CALCASA)

California Partnership to End Domestic Violence

Centers Against Abuse and Sexual Assault (CAASA), Palo Alto

Center for Gender and Refugee Studies, San Francisco

Choices Domestic Violence Solutions, Gardena

House of Ruth, Pomona

Human Options, Inc., Irvine

Humboldt Domestic Violence Services

Jenesse Center, Los Angeles, CA

La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians Avellaka Program, Pauma Valley

MAITRI

National Council of Jewish Women, California State Policy Advocacy Chair

National Council of Jewish Women, Long Beach (CA) Section

National Council of Jewish Women, Los Angeles (CA) Section, Los Angeles

National Organization for Women, CONTRA COSTA NOW, Contra Costa County

National Organization for Women, PACIFIC SHORE NOW, Orange County

Option House, San Bernardino

Peace Over Violence, Los Angeles

Strong-Hearted Native Women’s Coalition, Valley Center

Shelter From the Storm

YWCA Monterey County, Salinas

Colorado

9 to 5 Colorado

AAUW of Colorado

Archuleta County Victim Assistance Program, Pagosa Springs
San Miguel Resource Center, Telluride

Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Cross Roads Safe House, Fort Collins

Estes Valley Victim Advocates, Estes Park

National Organization for Women, BOULDER NOW, Boulder

Safe Shelter of St. Vrain Valley

SafeHouse Denver

S.H.A.R.E., Inc., Morgan County

Connecticut

AAUW of Connecticut

Center for Domestic Violence Services at BHcare, Ansonia, CT

Community Health Center, Inc., Middletown, CT

Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Connecticut Sexual Assault Crisis Services

CT Chapter of the National Organization for Women

Domestic Violence Program, Dayville/Willimantic, CT

Gay Men's Domestic Violence Project

Interval House, CT

Meriden-Wallingford Chrysalis, Inc., Meriden, CT

National Council of Jewish Women, Greater Bridgeport (CT) Section, Greater Bridgeport

National Council of Jewish Women, Greater Hartford (CT) Section, Greater Hartford

Network Against Domestic Abuse, Enfield, CT

New Horizons Domestic Violence Services, Middletown, CT

Prudence Crandall Center, New Britain, CT

Women and Families Center, Meriden, CT

Women’s Support Services, Inc., Sharon, CT

YWCA Hartford, CT

Delaware

AAUW of Delaware

Delaware Center for Justice, Wilmington

Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence

People’s Place II, Inc., Milford, DE 

YWCA Delaware

District of Columbia

AAUW of the District of Colombia

AYUDA, Inc.

Asian/Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project

DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence

DC Rape Crisis Center

District Alliance for Safe Housing

My Sister’s Place

National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum, DC Chapter

Rainbow Response Coalition

Ramona’s Way

Survivors and Advocates For Empowerment

The Greater Washington Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse

WEAVE—Washington Empowered Against Violence

YWCA National Capital Area

Florida

AAUW of Florida

Alachua County Victim Services Rape Crisis Center, Gainesville

Florida Council Against Sexual Violence

Florida National Organization for Women

Institute for Rapid Resolution Therapy, Jupiter

Institute for Science and Human Values, Inc.

Institute for Survivors of Sexual Violence, Jupiter

Manatee Glens, Certified Rape Crisis Center, Bradenton

National Council of Jewish Women, Palm Beach (FL) Section, Palm Beach 

National Organization for Women, BREVARD NOW, Brevard County

Women's Center of Jacksonville

Georgia 

9 to 5 Atlanta Working Women

AAUW of Georgia

Ahisma House, Atlanta

Awake, Inc. – Alpharetta, GA

Caminar Latino, Inc. – Doraville, GA

Center for Pan Asian Community Services, Atlanta

Christian League for Battered Women, Cartersville

Circle of Hope, Cornelia

Circle of Love Center, Inc. - Greensboro, GA

Crisis Line and Safe House of Central Georgia, Macon

F.A.I.T.H. in Rabun County, Inc. – Clayton, GA

Forsyth County Family Haven, Inc. – Cumming, GA

Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Georgia Network to End Sexual Assault

Harmony House, LaGrange

Hospitality House for Women, Rome

International Women’s House, Inc. – Decatur, GA

Liberty House of Albany – Albany, GA

NOA—No One Alone – Dahlonega, GA

Northwest Georgia Family Crisis Center, Dalton

Partnership Against Domestic Violence, Atlanta and Lawrenceville

Polk County Women’s Shelter, Cedartown

Project Safe, Inc. – Athens, GA

Promise Place – Fayetteville, GA

Northeast Georgia Council on Domestic Violence – Hartwell, GA

Raksha, Inc.

Refugee Family Services – Stone Mountain, GA

Ruth’s Cottage, Tifton

S.A.F.E. in Union and Towns Counties - Blairsville, GA

Serenity House – Moultrie, GA

Shalom Bayit Program, Jewish Family and Career Services of Atlanta – Atlanta, GA

Sisters Empowerment Network, Inc. – Riverdale, GA

Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia            

Stronghold Atlanta – Atlanta, GA

Tapestri, Inc. – Tucker, GA

Victim Service Unit of Spalding County – Griffin, GA

Wayne County Protective Agency, Jesup

YWCA of Northwest Georgia – Marietta, GA

Guam

Guam Coalition Against Sexual Assault & Family Violence

Hawaii

AAUW of Hawaii

Catholic Charities Hawaii, Honolulu

Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Lana`i Domestic Violence Program - Women Helping Women, Lana`i City

Moloka'i Community Service Council, Kaunakakai

Parents And Children Together (PACT), Honolulu, HI

The Domestic Violence Action Center, Honolulu, Hawaii

The Honolulu Family Justice Center - Honolulu, HI

Windward Spouse Abuse Shelter

Women Helping Women, Wailuku

YWCA Hawaii Island, Hilo

YWCA of Oahu

Idaho

AAUW of Idaho

Advocates against Family Violence, Caldwell

Idaho Coalition Against Sexual & Domestic Violence

Native Women’s Coalition, Boise

Illinois 

AAUW of Illinois

Apna Ghar, Inc. (Our Home)

Child Abuse Council

Connections for Abused Women and Their Children, Chicago

Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago

Deborah’s Place

Drogheda Project, Shattuck

Family Resources, Inc., Molina

Family Shelter Service, Wheaton

Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault 

Illinois Valley Safe House Alliance

Jewish Child and Family Services, Chicago

Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago

Korean American Women In Need (KAN-WIN), Chicago

Mutual Ground, Inc., Aurora

National Organization for Women, ILLINOIS NOW

National Organization for Women, NORTH/NORTHWEST SUBURBAN ILLINOIS NOW

National Organization for Women, PEORIA NOW

National Organization for Women, SUBURBAN CHICAGO NOW

Riverview Center, Galena

Sexual Assault Family Emergencies, Vandalia

South Suburban Family Shelter, Homewood

Turning Point, Inc., Woodstock

VOICE, A Division of Pioneer Center for Human Services, Woodstock

YWCA Metropolitan Chicago, Chicago

YWCA of the Sauk Valley, Sterling

Indiana

AAUW of Indiana

Greater Federal of Women’s Clubs, St. John

Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Indiana Coalition Against Sexual Assault

Indiana National Organization for Women

Middleway House, Bloomington

Multicultural Efforts to end Sexual Assault (MESA)

YWCA Domestic Violence Intervention and Prevention Program, Lafayette, IN

YWCA North Central Indiana

Iowa 

AAUW of Iowa

ACCESS, Assault Care Center Extending Shelter & Support, Ames 

Domestic and Sexual Abuse Resource Center, Postville

Buena Vista, Cherokee, Ida, and Sac Counties  – Storm Lake

Business and Professional Women of Iowa (BPW/Iowa)

CAASA, Clay County

CAASA, Dickinson County

CASSA, Emmet County

CAASA, Palo Alto County

Catholic Charities Phoenix House, Council Bluffs 

Cedar Valley Friends of the Family, Waverly

Cerro Gordo County Iowa Sheriff’s Office

Centers Against Abuse and Sexual Assault (CAASA), Spencer

Children & Families of Iowa, Des Moines

Crisis Intervention and Advocacy Center, Adel

Cerro Gordo County Sheriff's Office, Mason City

Council on Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence, Sioux City 

Crisis Intervention Service, Mason City

Crisis Center and Women’s Shelter, Ottumwa 

Crisis Intervention Services, Oskaloosa

Deaf Iowans Against Abuse (DIAA)

Domestic/Sexual Assault Outreach Center, Fort Dodge   

Domestic Violence Alternatives/Sexual Assault Center, Inc., Marshalltown

Domestic Violence Intervention Program of Iowa City

Dubuque Community Y Domestic Violence Program, Dubuque, Delaware & Buchanan Counties

Family Crisis Centers of NW Iowa, Sioux Center

Family Resources, Davenport 

Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault

Iowa Men’s Action Network

Latinas Unidas por Un Nuevo Amanecer (L.U.N.A.), Des Moines, IA

Love In The Name of Christ,  Oskaloosa

Mahaska County Homelessness Coalition, Oskaloosa

Mental Health Center of North Iowa, Mason City

Monsoon United Asian Women, Des Moines

Northeast Iowa Housing and Homeless Alliance, Waverly

National Organization for Women, DES MOINES NOW, Des Moines 

National Organization for Women, IOWA NOW

Polk County Crisis and Advocacy Services, Des Moines

Rape Victim Advocacy Program, Iowa City

Riverview Center, Dubuque

Rural Iowa Crisis Center, Creston

Seeds of Hope, Waterloo

Sexual Assault/Domestic Abuse Advocacy Program, Muscatine

Tri-State Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Abuse

Victim Services - Family Crisis Support Network, Atlantic

Waverly-Shell Rock Area United Way

Waypoint, Cedar Rapids

Women Aware

YWCA Domestic Violence Shelter and Sexual Assault Program, Burlington 

YWCA DV/SA Resource Center, Clinton

YWCA DV/SA Resource Center Jackson, Maquoketa

Kansas

AAUW of Kansas

Crisis Resource Center of Southeast Kansas, Pittsburg, Kansas

Dear Neighbor Ministries/StepStone, Wichita, Kansas

Domestic Violence Association of Central Kansas, Salina, Kansas

DoVES, Inc., Atchison, Kansas

SOS, Inc., Emporia, Kansas

Family Crisis Center, Great Bend, Kansas

Family Crisis Services, Garden City, Kansas

Family Life Center, El Dorado, Kansas

Friends of Yates, Kansas City

GaDuGi SafeCenter, Lawrence, Kansas

Harvey County Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Task Force, Newton, Kansas

Kansas City Anti-Violence Project, Kansas City, MO (and Kansas)

Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence

Liberal Area Rape Crisis and Domestic Violence Services, Liberal, Kansas

Majestic Wolf, Overland Park

Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault, Kansas City, MO (and Kansas)

National Organization for Women, KANSAS NOW

Options: Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence Services, Hays, Kansas

SAFEHOME, Overland Park, Kansas

SAFEHOME, Winfield, Kansas

Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Center, Hutchinson

The Crisis Center, Inc., Manhattan, Kansas

Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center, Wichita, Kansas

Willow Domestic Violence Center, Lawrence, Kansas

YWCA Women’s Crisis Center, Wichita, Kansas

Kentucky

AAUW of Kentucky

Kentucky Domestic Violence Association

MensWork, Louisville

Safe Harbor, Ashland

Louisiana 

AAUW of Louisiana

Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence 

National Council of Jewish Women, Louisiana State Policy Advocacy Chair

Maine

AAUW of Maine

AMHC Sexual Assault Services, Caribou

Caring Unlimited - York County's Domestic Violence Program, Sanford, ME

Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Augusta

Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence

Rape Response Services, Bangor

Sexual Assault Crisis and Support Center, Winthrop

Sexual Assault Prevention & Response Services, Lewiston

Sexual Assault Response Services of Southern Maine, Portland

Sexual Assault Support Services of Midcoast Maine, Brunswick

The Next Step Domestic Violence Project

University of Maine Safe Campus Project

United Somali Women of Maine, Lewiston

Womancare/Aegis Association, Dover-Foxcroft

Maryland

AAUW of Maryland

ASHA for Women

Domestic Violence Center of Howard County, Columbia 

Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA)

Maryland Crime Victims’ Resource Center, Inc

Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence

National Organization for Women, ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY NOW, MD

National Organization for Women, MARYLAND NOW

National Organization for Women, WASHINGTON COUNTY NOW, MD

Rare Diamond Minds, Baltimore

Sexual Assault Legal Institute (SALI)

Share Time Wisely Consulting Services, Laurel

The Crisis Intervention Center at the Calvert County Health Department in Calvert County

Witness Justice

YWCA Greater Baltimore

Massachusetts

AAUW of Massachusetts

Boston Association for Childbirth Education & Nursing Mothers’ Council

Center for Women Policy Studies

City of Fitchburg Human Rights Commission, Fitchburg 

Clark University TOPICS: Dealing with Dating Violence, Worcester MA

Gay Men's Domestic Violence Project

HarborCOV, Chelsea

Jane Doe Inc., the Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence

Mass 2-1-1, Framingham

Massachusetts of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS)

Massachusetts Midwives Alliance (MMA)

Massachusetts Protective Mothers

The Network/La Red, Boston

SoLatina, Revere

Michigan

AAUW of Michigan

Alternatives to Domestic Aggression, a program of Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County

Batterer Intervention Services Coalition of Michigan (BISC-MI)

Center for Family Policy and Practice, Milwaukee, WI

Christian Women Alive, Troy

Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (Shelterhouse), Midland, MI

HAVEN Oakland County, Pontiac, MI

Michigan Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence

National Council of Jewish Women, Michigan State Policy Advocacy Chair

National Organization for Women, Wayne County NOW, Wayne County

Oakland County Coordinating Council Against Domestic Violence (OCCCADV)

River House, Inc., Grayling, MI

SafeHouse Center

SafeHouse Center, Ann Arbor

Sisters Acquiring Financial Empowerment (SAFE), Detroit, MI

Turning Point, Mt. Clemens, MI 

Underground Railroad, Inc., Saginaw, MI

Women's Information Service, Inc. (W.I.S.E.) - Big Rapids

Women’s Resource Center for the Grand Traverse Area, MI

Minnesota

AAUW of Minnesota

Asian Women United of Minnesota, Hennepin and Ramsey Counties 

Central Minnesota Task Force on Battered Women, St. Cloud 

Domestic Abuse Project

First Nations Coalition, Moorhead

Hope Center, Faribault

Marshall County Victim Services, Marshall County

Mending the Sacred Hoop, Duluth

Minnesota Center Against Violence & Abuse, St. Paul

Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault 

Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women

Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless, St. Paul 

Range Women’s Advocates, Virginia 

Sexual Violence Center, Minneapolis

Sojourner Project, Inc.

Someplace Safe, Fergus Falls

Tubman, Minneapolis 

WATCH 

WINDOW Victim Services, Hinckley

Mississippi

AAUW of Mississippi

Gulf Coast Women’s Center for Non-Violence, Biloxi

Mississippi Coalition Against Sexual Assault

Mississippi Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Urban Life Counseling Center Inc, Mound Bayou 

Safe Haven, Inc.

Missouri

AAUW of Missouri

Crawford County Missouri Prosecuting Attorney’s Office

Life Source Consultants, Inc., St. Louis

Missouri National Organization for Women

National Council of Jewish Women, Missouri State Policy Advocacy Chair

National Council of Jewish Women, St. Louis Section, St. Louis

RAVEN, St. Louis

Montana

AAUW of Montana

Domestic and Sexual Violence Services, Red Lodge

HELP Committee, Havre

Hill County DELTA Program, Havre

Montana Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence

National Organization for Women, Montana NOW

Richland County Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Sidney

SAFE Harbor Inc., Lake County

Victim’s Assistance Program, Gallatin County Government, Bozeman, MT

Victim-Witness Assistance Services, Inc, Great Falls

Nebraska

AAUW of Nebraska

Domestic Abuse/Sexual Assault Services, McCook

National Organization for Women - Nebraska

Nebraska Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Coalition

Voices of Hope, Lincoln

Winnebago Domestic Violence Program, Winnebago

Nevada

Committee to Aid Abused Women (CAAW)

Nevada Network Against Domestic Violence

S.A.F.E. House, Henderson, NV

Safe Nest, Las Vegas

Tahoe SAFE Alliance, Incline Way Village, NV

New Hampshire

AAUW of New Hampshire

New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence

New Jersey 

AAUW of New Jersey

Contact of Burlington County, Moorestown

Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault Intervention Services, Newton

Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault Crisis Center, Washington

Jersey Battered Women’s Service

Manavi – Working to End Violence Against South Asian Women

MASK Theater, Skillman

New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault

New Jersey Coalition for Battered Women

National Council of Jewish Women, Essex County Section

National Council of Jewish Women, New Jersey State Policy Advocacy Chair

National Council of Jewish Women, West Morris (NJ) Section

National Organization for Women, NEW JERSEY NOW

National Organization for Women, SOUTH JERSEY NOW

Partners for Women and Justice

Passaic County Women's Center, Passaic County 

The Women’s Center, Atlantic County

William Paterson University, Wayne

Womanspace, Inc., Trenton

Women's Health & Counseling Center, Sommerville

YWCA of Eastern Union County

New Mexico

AAUW of New Mexico

Amity Foundation, Albuquerque

Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women, Albuquerque

Cuidando Los Ninos, A Home for Every Child, Albuquerque 

New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence

S.A.F.E. House, Albuquerque

Tewa Women United, Santa Cruz

New York

AAUW of New York

Beth Israel Rape Crisis and Domestic Violence Intervention Program, New York

Catholic Charities of Chenango County, Norwich

Crime Victim and Sexual Violence Center, Albany

Crime Victims Assistance Center, Inc., Binghamton, NY

Domestic Harmony Foundation (DHF) – Long Island

Gangashakti.org, Utica

Hope’s Door

ILERA Counseling & Education Services

In Our Own Voices, Inc., Capital Region

My Sister’s Place, White Plains

Nassau County Coalition Against Domestic Violence

National Council of Jewish Women, New York (NY) Section 

National Council of Jewish Women, New York State Policy Advocacy Chair

National Organization for Women, East End NOW, NY

National Organization for Women, Greater Rochester Chapter NOW, Greater Rochester 

National Organization for Women, NEW YORK STATE NOW

New York Asian Women’s Center, New York

New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project

New York Legal Assistance Group

New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault

New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Sauti Yetu Center for African Women, New York

Suffolk County Coalition Against Domestic Violence Inc., Suffolk County 

The Korean American Family Service Center

The Retreat, Suffolk County

Turning Point for Women and Families, Flushing

UJA-Federation of NY Task Force on Family Violence

VIBS—Family Violence and Rape Crisis Center, Holbrook

Violence Intervention Program

North Carolina

30th Judicial District Domestic Violence-Sexual Assault Alliance, Inc.., Waynesville

AAUW of North Carolina

Crisis Council, Troy

Durham Crisis Response Center, Durham

Haven House, Inc., Raleigh

Love Speaks Out Speaker's Bureau, Charlotte, NC

National Organization for Women, ASHEVILLE NOW, Asheville

National Organization for Women, Fayetteville NOW, Fayetteville, NC

National Organization for Women, North Carolina Chapter

National Organization for Women, Raleigh Chapter

North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence

North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault

Orange County Rape Crisis Center (OCRCC)

Our VOICE, Inc., Asheville

REACH of Jackson County, Sylva

Safe Relationships Division, Family Services, Inc., Winston-Salem

United 4 The DREAM, Charlotte, NC

United Family Services, Charlotte, NC

YWCA Greater Triangle, Raleigh

North Dakota

AAUW of North Dakota

First Nations Women’s Alliance, Devils Lake

North Dakota Council on Abused Women's Services

Northern Marinas

Northern Marianas Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence

Ohio

AAUW of Ohio  

Abuse and Rape Crisis Shelter of Warren County, Lebanon

Akron Area NOW

Alternatives to Violence Center

American Red Cross, Canton Ohio 

Asha-Ray of Hope, Columbus

Ashtabula Chapter, National Organization of Women

Asian Services In Action – Cleveland & Akron

Body of Christ Deliverance, Dayton

Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, Cleveland

Crisis Care Line/House of Transitions, Van Wert County

Domestic Violence Project, Canton

IMPACT Safety

Justice for Women Committee, Presbytery of Scioto Valley

Lorain County Rape Crisis Center

My Sister’s Place, Athens, Ohio

Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence

Ohio Domestic Violence Network

Ohio National Organization for Women

Prevent Assault & Violence Education (PAVE)

SomaliCAN – Columbus

S.T.A.C.I.E. Foundation, Cincinnati

Victims Services, Behavioral Connections, Bowling Green 

YWCA Greater Cincinnati

YWCA, Dayton

Oklahoma

AAUW of Oklahoma

Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault 

Native Alliance Against Violence, Oklahoma City

YWCA Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City

Oregon

AAUW of Oregon

Home Free, a program of Volunteers of America - Portland, Oregon 

Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence

Raphael House of Portland, Portland

Survivors Justice Center, Eugene

YWCA of Greater Portland

Pennsylvania

Abuse and Rape Crisis Center, Towanda, PAAAUW of Pennsylvania

Blackburn Center Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, Greensburg, PA

Circle of Hope and Love, Harrisburg

Clinton County Women’s Center, Lock Haven, PA

Crisis Center North, Pittsburgh, PA

Crime Victim Center of Erie County

Crisis Shelter of Lawrence County, New Castle 

Direction of Wise Options, Williamsport

Domestic Abuse Project of Delaware County, Media, PA

Domestic Violence Service Center, Wilkes-Barre, PA

Lutheran Settlement House/BDVD, Philadelphia, PA

Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape

Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence

National Council of Jewish Women, Pennsylvania State Policy Advocacy Chair

National Council of Jewish Women, Pittsburgh Section, Pittsburgh 

National Organization for Women, First Pittsburgh NOW, Pittsburgh 

Network of Victim Assistance, Jamison 

SAFE, Clarion, PA

SafeNet Domestic Violence Safety Network, Erie, PA

School and College Organization for Prevention Educators, Hatfield

Schuylkill Women in Crisis, Pottsville, PA

Security on Campus, Wayne

Slippery Rock University Women’s Center, Slippery Rock Township

Sullivan County (PA) Victim Services, Laporte

Survivors, Inc.  Gettysburg, PA

The Abuse Network, Mifflin and Junianta Counties, Lewistown, PA

The Women's Center of Montgomery County, PA

Victims' Intervention Program, Honesdale

Victim Services, Inc. 

Women Against Abuse, Philadelphia

Women’s Center of Beaver County, Beaver

Women in Transition, Inc.  Philadelphia, PA

Women Organized Against Rape-Philadelphia

Women’s Resources of Monroe County, Delaware Water Gap

Women’s Resource Center, Scranton PA

YWCA Bradford, Bradford, PA

YWCA Greater Harrisburg, Harrisburg 

YWCA Lancaster, Lancaster

YWCA Northcentral PA, Williamsport, PA

Puerto Rico 

La Coordinadora Paz Para La Mujer - Puerto Rico Coalition Against Domestic Violence 

and Sexual Assault

Rhode Island

AAUW of Rhode Island

Blackstone Valley Advocacy Center, Pawtucket, RI

Domestic Violence Resource Center of South County, Wakefield, RI 

Gay Men's Domestic Violence Project

National Council of Jewish Women, Rhode Island State Policy Advocacy Chair

National Organization for Women, RI NOW

Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Sojourner House, Providence, RI

Women's Center of Rhode Island, Providence, RI

South Carolina

AAUW of South Carolina

Citizens Opposed to Domestic Abuse (CODA), Beaufort

Julie Valentine Center, Greenville

Laurens County SAFE Home Network, Clinton

Pee Dee Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Assault, Florence

SAFE Homes - Rape Crisis Coalition, Spartanburg

South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (SCCADVASA)

SC Victim Assistance Network

South Dakota

AAUW of South Dakota

Native American Community Board, Lake Andes

Native Women’s Society of the Great Plains, Timber Lake

South Dakota Coalition Ending Domestic & Sexual Violence

White Buffalo Calf Society, Mission

Wiconi Wawokiya, Inc. (Project SAFE), Fort Thompson

Tennessee 

AAUW of Tennessee

Bridges of Willliamson County, Williamson County 

Community Health of East Tennessee

Northwest Safeline

Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence

Texas

AAUW of Texas

Allgo, Austin

AVDA, Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse, Houston

Bay Area Turning Point, Inc., Houston

Daya, Inc., Houston 

Deaf Smith County Crisis Center, Hereford 

Esperanza Peace and Justice Center, San Antonio

Family Crisis Center, Harlingen

Gateway Family Services, Snyder

Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council, Houston

Hope’s Door, Inc., Plano 

LeeLee’s Lighthouse Foundation, Austin

National Council of Jewish Women, Greater Dallas Section, Dallas 

New Beginning Center, Garland

Panhandle Crisis Center, Perryton

P.E.A.C.E. Initiative, San Antonio

Shelter Agencies For Familes in East Texas, Mt. Pleasant

Texas Association Against Sexual Assault, Austin

Texas Association Against Sexual Assault

Texas National Organization for Women

Women’s Shelter of South Texas

YWCA Fort Worth & Tarrant County

Utah 

AAUW of Utah

Holy Cross Ministries of Utah

Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault

Utah Domestic Violence Council

YWCA Salt Lake City, Salt Lake City 

Vermont

AAUW of Vermon

Umbrella, St. Johnsbury

Vermont Legal Aid, Inc.

Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence

Voices Against Violence/Laurie's House, St. Albans

Women Helping Battered Women, Inc., Burlington

WomenSafe, Middlebury 

Virgin Islands 

Virgin Islands Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Council

Virginia 

AAUW of Virginia

Avalon Center: domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Program, Williamsburg

Fredericksburg Chapter, Virginia National Organization for Women

Foundation for Appropriate and Immediate Temporary Help (FAITH Services), Herndon

National Organization for Women, RICHMOND NOW, Richmond 

Safe Harbor, Richmond

Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance

Virginia National Organization for Women

YWCA South Hampton Roads

Washington 

AAUW of Washington

Beyond Survival Sexual Assault Resource Center Gray’s Harbor County, Aberdeen

LGO Consulting, DuPont

National Organization for Women, San Juan County NOW 

SafePlace, Olympia, WA

The Support Center, Omak

Women Spirit Coalition, Olympia

Womencare Shelter

Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence

YWCA Spokane

West Virginia

AAUW of West Virginia

A Child’s Place CASA

Change Inc./The Lighthouse Domestic Violence Awareness Center Weirton WV

CONTACT Rape Crisis Center, Huntington

Covenant House

Family Counseling Connection, Charleston

Family Refuge Center, Lewisburg

HOPE, Inc., Fairmont

Rape and Domestic Violence Information Center, Morgantown

Ridgeline: Ideas in Action

Sexual Assault Help Center, Wheeling

Shenandoah Women’s Center, Inc.

Shenandoah Women’s Center, Martinsburg

United Way of Southern West Virginia, Inc.

West Virginia Action Group

West Virginia Affordable Health Care

West Virginia American Civil Liberties Union

West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence

West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services

West Virginia FREE

West Virginia Planned Parenthood

West Virginia Women’s Commission

Women’s Aid in Crisis, Elkins

Women’s Resource Center, Beckley

YWCA Wheeling Family Violence Prevention Program

Wisconsin

9to5 Milwaukee

AAUW of Wisconsin

Asha Family Services, Inc.

Asha Family Services, Inc, Milwaukee

Family Services, Green Bay

HAVEN, Inc.

Men Stopping Rape, Madison

National Organization for Women, MADISON NOW, Madison 

The Bridge to Hope, Menomonie

The Healing Center, Milwaukee

Turningpoint for Victims of Domestic and Sexual Violence, River Falls

Uniting Three Fires Against Domestic Violence, Saulte Ste. Marie

Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault

YWCA Madison

Wyoming 

AAUW of Wyoming

Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault

Tell Congress to Reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act!

VAWA is moving quickly toward reauthorization and will be marked up in the Senate Judiciary Committee February 2 at 10 am. VAWA now has 28 sponsors, but we need EVERY Senator on the Senate Judiciary Committee to support VAWA during mark up.  Please take the following actions to get VAWA reauthorized SWIFTLY!

Action 1: Call members on the Senate Judiciary Committee listed below who have NOT YET signed on to support VAWA and tell them they need to support VAWA today!

IOWA:  Senator Chuck Grassley, Ranking Member (R) - Phone:  202.224.3744

Be sure to remind the Senator that he has always supported VAWA and we need his support now. Victims of sexual assault and domestic violence in Iowa rely on the services that VAWA supports. Violence crosses all political and other boundaries. Victims need the support he has provided in the past.

UTAH:  Senator Orrin G. Hatch (R) - Phone:  202.224.5251 and Senator Michael S. Lee (R) - Phone:  202.224.5444  

Be sure to remind Senator Hatch that he has always supported VAWA and we need his support now. Victims of sexual assault and domestic violence in Utah rely on the services that VAWA supports. Violence crosses all political and other boundaries. Victims need the support he has provided in the past. In October 2000 Senator Hatch said: “Madam President, I rise today to express my pride and gratitude that the Violence Against Women Act of 2000 will pass the Senate today and soon become law. This important legislation provides tools that will help women in Utah and around the country who are victims of domestic violence break away from dangerous and destructive relationships and begin living their lives absent of fear.”

TEXAS:  Senator John Cornyn (R) - Phone:  202.224.2934

Be sure to remind Senator Cornyn that he has always supported VAWA and we need his support now. Victims of sexual assault and domestic violence in Texas rely on the services that VAWA supports. Violence crosses all political and other boundaries. Victims need the support he has provided in the past.

SOUTH CAROLINA:  Senator Lindsey Graham (R) - Phone:  202.224.5972

Tell Senator Graham that an inclusive VAWA can protect victims such as this one in South Carolina.  Click here to read the story.   

ARIZONA:  Senator Jon Kyl (R) - Phone:  202.224.4521

ALABAMA:  Senator Jeff Sessions (R) - Phone:  202.224.4124

OKLAHOMA:  Senator Tom Coburn (R) - Phone:  202.224.5754

Call the D.C. Senate and House offices and ask to speak to the staff person handling VAWA.  Tell them the importance of VAWA and ask them to please attend the briefing.  Staff for our sponsors should attend to get information to shore up and expand their bosses’ knowledge and enthusiasm about the bill.  Staff of wavering or uncertain Members will be able to gather important info about VAWA and ask questions or voice their concerns.  Click here for Senate numbers and here for House numbers.   

Action 2:  Send a letter to the editor to your local paper – especially in Iowa, Utah, Arizona, Alabama, South Carolina, Texas and Oklahoma.

Let your community know that VAWA needs to be reauthorized quickly.  Send this letter to your local paper – some allow for submissions online.

To The Editor:

Domestic violence is pervasive and must end. In fact, violence against women and children affects everyone in [name of local community] in some way. In 1994, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) was a giant step forward for our nation. Its passage meant that our federal government finally acknowledged that domestic and sexual violence cause tremendous harm, and put resources into helping victims. Millions of families are better off as a result.

The time has come to again reauthorize this critical legislation. Evidence shows that VAWA is working. Over the last 15 years, domestic and sexual violence have declined. But there is more work to do. On average, each day current and former boyfriends and husbands murder three women in America and several hundred people are raped or sexually assaulted. Countless children witness this violence. The Violence Against Women Act of 2011 will build on efforts to prevent violence before it begins and teach the next generation that violence is always wrong.

We need more resources for children and youth who have been exposed to violence, and to engage men as allies in this work. Congress must reauthorize this legislation and invest more in building healthy communities.

Sincerely,

[Name, Title, Organization, Contact Info]

Action 3:  Thank our important allies in the campaign to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act.

Thank Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Senator Michael Crapo (R-ID) who introduced S. 1925.  And please thank all of the co-sponsors to the bill.  

To find a list of the VAWA Cosponsors, follow these four simple steps:

1. Go to www.thomas.loc.gov
2. Select search by "Bill Number"
3. Enter S.1925 in the space provided
4. When the bill is brought up, click on "Cosponsors”

BE A PART OF HISTORY

Join us TOMORROW, Thursday, January 26 for the VAWA Mark Up!

S. 1925, the bipartisan Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA) of 2011, is scheduled for markup at 10:00am TOMORROW, Thursday, January 26, in the Senate Judiciary Committee, 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building.

After introduction, this is the first step in the process of moving the bill through committee and to the floor. All are welcome – be a part of VAWA reauthorization!

Seating is limited, so make sure to arrive early.

VAWA Action Alert

Thank you for all you are doing to urge Congress to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act! 

We are excited that the Attorneys General from 47 states have signed onto a collective letter to Congress supporting the reauthorization of VAWA. This week, we are hosting a briefing on VAWA for Senate staff with excellent speakers from across the country who know first-hand how important VAWA is to victim/survivors. We also invite you to participate in the first ever VAWA blog carnival. Please see below for more details about how to take action and make our voices heard to reauthorize VAWA now!

TAKE ACTION TODAY!

Action 1: Call your Members of Congress and ask them to send staff to the Task Force’s upcoming Hill Briefings on VAWA.

Find your Senator's DC office number here and House phone numbers here. Ask to speak to the staff person handling VAWA, and ask them to please attend the VAWA Briefings. If they are unavailable, please leave a message. Staff for our sponsors should attend to get information to shore up and expand their bosses’ knowledge and enthusiasm about the bill. Staff of wavering or uncertain Members will be able to gather important info about VAWA and ask questions or voice their concerns.          

Senate Briefing:

January 26th 2:30-4pm, 226, G-50 Dirksen

House Briefing:
January 31st, 10:30am-12pm, 2237 Rayburn

Action 2: Thank our important allies in the campaign to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act.

On January 11, the National Association of Attorneys General  sent a letter to every Member of Congress encouraging them to reauthorize VAWA. A bipartisan group of 47 Attorneys General (AG) signed the letter along with the AGs from the territories. The letter can be found here.  The 3 holdouts were from Alabama, Alaska and Virginia. 

Please call or email your AG and thank them for their support. Invite them to speak about the importance of VAWA at any of your group’s events and encourage them to personally contact their Senators to show support. Send a version of your thank you note to your local paper, praising the AG and showcasing your Senators and Representative – either thanking them for sponsoring or encouraging them to get on board. 

Also, copy and resend the letter to your own Senators and House member emphasizing how important it is to have the highest law enforcement official in your state supporting VAWA. This is truly bipartisan, with 22 Republican and 25 Democratic AGs signing the letter.

You can find your AG's contact information here.

Action 3: Draft your blog for the first ever blog carnival for VAWA.

Participate in a “Blog Carnival for VAWA” during the week beginning January 30.  HERvotes is a coalition of women’s rights organizations and activists who have been blogging on important issues facing women in the upcoming elections.  This is a perfect grassroots activity for anti-violence activists leading up to the Senate Judiciary Committee’s vote on VAWA in early February and the House Judiciary Committee’s hearing on VAWA February 16.  We will send more information in the next alert about how to make sure your blog is included—this week, start drafting!

Have questions? Email:  Emily@ncjwdc.org

Below are a few important points you can cover in your blog post:

• How does VAWA help my community or my constituency?
• Why is it important for Congress and the federal government to partner with us to lead the fight against domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking?
• Share your perspective as a victim and survivor.
• Share your perspective as an advocate and activist.

To find a list of the VAWA Cosponsors, follow these four simple steps:

1. Go to www.thomas.loc.gov
2. Select search by "Bill Number"
3. Enter S.1925 in the space provided
4. When the bill is brought up, click on "Cosponsors”

Exciting Times for the Violence Against Women Act

We must reauthorize VAWA this year!   Advocates across the country are reaching out to Congress asking for sponsorship and support.  Please join us today! 

We are using in person meetings, phones, letters, emails, advocacy, and social media to promote important programs and issues that stop sexual and domestic violence.  If you have questions or want to report back about your efforts or results, please email us at ReauthorizeVAWA@gmail.com.  
 

Here are Four Simple Action Steps to Take Today:

Action 1: Email your Senators and tell them what VAWA means to you! 

You can find your Senaors' email addresses here, and you can use the message below to encourage their support for VAWA:

VAWA reauthorization legislation, S. 1925 by Senators Leahy and Crapo, was developed with the input of advocates from around the country and from all walks of life and addresses the real and most important needs of victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. It is responsive, streamlined, and constitutionally and fiscally sound, while providing strong accountability measures and appropriate federal government oversight. This legislation represents our voices—the voices of victims and advocates. I ask you to wholeheartedly support the swift passage of S. 1925.

Please be sure to thank them if they are Cosponsors, and if they are not, ask them to join Senators Leahy and Crapo to reauthorize VAWA.  To find a list of the VAWA Cosponsors, follow these four simple steps:

• Go to THOMAS of The Library of Congress
• Select search by "Bill Number"
• Enter S.1925 in the space provided
• When the bill is brought up, click on "Cosponsors”

Action 2: Ask Senate Judiciary Committee Members from your state, who are not yet VAWA Cosponsors, to join us today!

The Senate Judiciary Committee, Chaired by Senator Leahy, will be the first place VAWA reauthorization legislation is voted on by our members of Congress. We expect VAWA to be “marked-up” in the Judiciary Committee as early as the last week of January.

The following members of the Senate Judiciary Committee are NOT yet listed as Cosponsors of VAWA, and they need to hear from us that we want their visible support as Cosponsors of  S. 1925 before the Committee vote:

Tom Coburn

R-Oklahoma

Christopher A. Coons

D-Delaware

John Cornyn

R-Texas

Dianne Feinstein

D-California

Lindsey Graham

R-South Carolin

Chuck Grassley (Ranking Member)

R-Iowa

Orrin G. Hatch

R-Utah

Jon Kyl

R-Arizona

Michael S. Lee

R-Utah

Jeff Sessions

R-Alabama
      

Action 3:  Participate in the #ReauthorizeVAWA Twitter Carnival on Wednesday, January 18th at 12pm EST, 11am CST, 10am MST, 9am PST

HUGE thanks to all who have been tweeting about VAWA.  Now we need to make #ReauthorizeVAWA a trending topic on twitter. In order to achieve this goal, we need a lot of people to tweet messages that include the hashtag #ReauthorizeVAWA in a SHORT amount of time.  The bigger a splash we can make, the better! You can help us trend #ReauthorizeVAWA by tweeting this message on Wednesday, January 18th at noon EST:

• We urge all Senators to support S. 1925 and #ReauthorizeVAWA now! 4vawa.org

During the Twitter Carnival, please retweet and respond to the twitters of others – remember to always include #ReauthorizeVAWA.  If you won't be available at this time, don't worry, you can still send out the post on time by signing onto HootSuite and schedule your message to post on January 18th  at noon EST (make sure you’re time settings are for EST).   

 

Action 4:  Last but not least, check us out on Facebook!

Thank you.  Let's PASS VAWA!

If you would like to be kept informed via email, or want to add members of your staff or state/community leaders to our grassroots alerts e-mailing list, send names and contact information including email to Sean Black, sblack@icasa.org.

VAWA is heating up in the Senate!

The Judiciary Committee intends to begin “mark-up” of S. 1925 (VAWA) as early as January 26th.

TAKE ACTION TODAY!

Action 1: Advocates and activists from Alaska, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, Texas are needed to call senators from those states who’ve shown interest in co-sponsoring VAWA.

In our meetings with numerous Senate staff, we’ve had especially friendly contact with FIVE senators who have shown an interest in sponsoring VAWA.  If you live in one of the below states, please call their office, ask to speak to the staff person who handles VAWA, and ask them to co-sponsor VAWA immediately including a story about why the bill is needed in your state.

Alaska – Senator Lisa Murkowski
Massachusetts – Senator Scott Brown
Nevada – Senator Dean Heller
New Hampshire – Senator Kelly Ayotte
Texas – Senator John Cornyn 

Action 2: Continue asking senators to become co-sponsors of VAWA and thank those who have.

If you don’t live in one of the 5 states above, you should still contact your Senators. Thank those who are already sponsors of S. 1925, and ask them to speak out for VAWA and encourage their colleagues to sponsor the bill. Ask those who are NOT yet sponsors to come on board ASAP.  With a Judiciary vote coming soon, there’s a chance the bill could come to the Senate floor for final passage in the months ahead and we need an overwhelming show of support.

To find a list of the VAWA Cosponsors, follow these four simple steps:

1. Go to www.thomas.loc.gov
2. Select search by "Bill Number"
3. Enter S.1925 in the space provided
4. When the bill is brought up, click on "Cosponsors”

Action 3: Build community support for VAWA.

Encourage your Members of Congress to join with state and/or local political and community leaders to host roundtables/forums/discussions/hearings/listening sessions on the topic of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking.  See what Senator Klobuchar did in Minneapolis.

Work with coalition partners to encourage some form of community awareness event that promotes VAWA and highlights the work of the local, state and national political leaders.  See all the groups who signed onto the letters below and invite their state counterparts to your anti-violence coalition.