Dear allies supporting women’s right and ending violence and poverty,
The National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence is swinging into action. We are building momentum for our campaign to reauthorize the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act. Please review the attached sign on letter asking House members to co-sponsor the FVPSA bill, HR 4116. FVPSA, the only dedicated federal funding source for domestic violence shelters and services, expired in 2008 and must be swiftly reauthorized. We currently have 50 cosponsors, but we need an outpouring of support from national organizations and the field as we talk to the Administration and walk the halls of Congress seeking support and handing out this letter.
Our first rounds of meetings begin this Tuesday, so we hope as many of you as possible can add your organization’s name before then. We need national, statewide and community organizations from all across the country to make our point. Individuals with prominence on these issues are welcome to endorse as well. The attached letter summarizes the bill and its importance.
Please send your endorsement, including your name and if you are a national, state or community group, to Angela Smith asmith@nnedv.org by COB, Monday, February 1, 2010 if possible. We recognize the short turnaround may make this impossible, so we’ll continue to collect signatories through Friday, February 5.
Please do NOT send your sign on permission to me. For the moment, I am just the messenger. Once we raise the funds to staff and supply web support for the Task Force, we’ll be more automated and all this will be easier.
Thanks for your eternal vigilance and dedication,
Pat Reuss
Policy Advisor,
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence