Legislative Priorities

2005

Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization

• Go to NCADV's VAWA Advocates' Action Guide 

• VAWA 2005 Website 

• VAWA 2005 Reauthorization Fact Sheet 

• Overview of VAWA from the past 10 years 

• Download a Sample Letter to Congress supporting VAWA Reauthorization

Immigrant Victims of Violence Protection Act of 2005 HR 3188

• Introduced by Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and 77 original co-sponsors

• Click here for Rep. Schakowsky's press release 

• Click here for bill text 

• Click here for bill summary, status and co-sponsors

Security and Financial Empowerment Act (for victims of domestic & sexual violence) HR 3185

• Introduced by Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA)

• Click here for Rep. Roybal-Allard's press release

• Click here for bill text

• Click here for bill summary, status and co-sponsors

Congress introduces "SHIELD Act" to Protect Domestic Violence Victims from HUD's Housing Management Information System Requirements.

• Bill Text at Thomas.loc.gov 

• SHIELD ACT Summary and Bill Status

• Reps. Moore and Harris' and Dear Colleague Letter

• SHIELD Act Action Alert, June 2005

In July 2003 the Department of Housing and Urban Development released the Final Standards for the Homeless Management Information System. These standards affect the way that battered women shelters, who receive HUD funding, report confidential information to the national HMIS database. NCADV worked closely with NNEDV and other groups to revise the standards to protect the confidentiality of battered women seeking services.

• HMIS Final Standards 

• HMIS Action Alert, September 2004 

• NCADV letter to President Bush and Secretary Jackson  

• Local program sample letter to Secretary Jackson  

• HUD Clarifications Fact Sheet from NNEDV  

• A Domestic Violence Advocacy Guide to the Final HMIS Standards 

• HMIS Q&A

Administration Requests Recission of Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Fund

The President's budget would set the VOCA cap at $650 million in FY 2006 and rescind the entire balance of the VOCA Fund and put that money into the general fund. This means that in the year 2007 there would be $0 VOCA dollars available to reimburse state agencies, local programs and crime victims.

• Call your Members of Congress and tell them to save the VOCA balance!  Click here to download a Sample Letter to your Member of Congress supporting VOCA.

• For more information on the status of VOCA funds please visit the National Association of VOCA Assistance Administrators (www.navaa.org).

2006 Federal Appropriations for VAWA, VOCA and FVPSA Programs

The NCADV Public Policy office worked closely with Members of Congress and other national organizations to advocate for full funding for violence against women programs such as VOCA, FVPSA and VAWA for 2006. Since 2001, these programs have not been funded at their authorized levels. Please click on the links below to get more information on the current status of appropriations bills as well as how you can take action:

• FY 2006 Appropriations Briefing Book 

• Fact Sheet on FY 2006 Appropriations 

• Talking Points on FY 2006 Appropriations 

• Sample Letter to Congress for Local DV Programs 

• Find your Member of Congress Here!

2005 Federal Appropriations
NCADV worked closely with Members of Congress to advocate for increased funding for violence against women programs such as VOCA, FVPSA and VAWA funding. Please click on the links to get more information and details on appropriations and NCADV’s activities on this bill:

• Action Alert 

• Funding Chart 

• 2005 Appropriations Sample Letter for Local Programs