U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-IN) renewed her call for support of local organizations that aid survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault after recently touring YWCA North Central Indiana.
Walorski recently signed a bipartisan letter led by U.S. Rep. Kevin Yoder (R-KS) that calls on the Trump administration to fully fund grants administered to local organizations under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).
“Organizations like the YWCA North Central Indiana are on the front lines helping women and children in our community, and (on Thursday) I saw firsthand what they are doing to improve people’s lives,” Walorski said. “I will keep fighting for the resources Congress passed in the bipartisan VAWA law so these community organizations can continue their vital work to assist survivors of violence.”
Reauthorized by Congress in 2013, the VAWA provides support to local groups that support survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault through the Department of Justice.
“Each and every day, thousands of women take refuge in domestic abuse shelters and countless lives are saved thanks to the Violence Against Women Act,” Yoder said. “Cutting VAWA grants would mean we are failing to protect some of the most vulnerable women, children and families in our country. We feel strongly that Congress and the Trump administration must ensure the policies and procedures in place at the federal level must remain intact so we can meet their needs.”
The letter states that VAWA has saved countless lives since it was first authorized in 1994, and that present day programs defend survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking.
“… This essential program was created after decades of growing unease over the rising violent crime rate against women and has served to protect some of the most vulnerable women and families in our country,” the letter states.
“Unfortunately, domestic and sexual violence continues to occur at an alarming rate and we feel strongly that Congress must protect the policies and procedures we have put in place at the federal level to respond to the needs of victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking and sex trafficking,” the letter said.
On an average day as many as 71,828 victims are served with 40,302 seeking safety in domestic refuge shelters, according to the most recent data from the National Network to End Domestic Violence. Furthermore, thousands of requests for service are unfulfilled each day as a result of lack of government funding and staffing cut.