The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) – a major funding source for domestic violence and sexual assault programs – is facing massive, immediate cuts and even more drastic cuts in the future if Congress doesn’t act now. Millions of survivors rely on VOCA each year to access lifesaving services including shelter, housing, legal assistance, and counseling.
Congress is working on the omnibus appropriations bill RIGHT NOW, so your calls and emails can’t wait!
Congress has an opportunity to save victim service grants by including a VOCA fix and steady funding in their omnibus appropriations bill – a bill that they need to pass this week.
If you are a service provider funded by VOCA, tell Congress:
- Cuts to the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) in the fiscal year 2021 spending bill would be catastrophic for [NAME OF AGENCY], serving [CITY/COUNTY];
- Our program would have to [i.e., reduce our services, lay off staff] if we lose any more VOCA funding;
- People in danger would not have access to emergency shelter, housing, legal assistance, or counseling;
- Please act now to provide steady funding for VOCA in fiscal year 2021 and provide a long-term fix for the VOCA fund by the end of the year.
You can also email them through their websites with the same asks. Please share this factsheet and this letter in your email.
Senators & Representatives contact information
In Washington State, everyone’s Senators are Senator Maria Cantwell & Senator Patty Murray. Please contact both of them.
You’ll also need to contact your Washington State House of Representatives member:
Rep. Suzan DelBene, District 1
Rep. Jaime Herrera-Beutler, District 3
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, District 5
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, District 7
Not sure who your Representative is? You can look it up here.
WSCADV has messaged all of the above Senators and Representatives via twitter. Please consider retweeting with a personalized message to both Senators and your Representative.
Every phone call and email counts – your members of Congress must hear from you today. Thank you for your critical advocacy!