Fully fund the Violence Against Women Act

More money to fund Violence Against Women Act

Updated: Thursday, December 17th, 2009 | By Lukas Pleva

During the campaign, Barack Obama promised to "help communities, nonprofit organizations and police combat domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking" by fully funding the Violence Against Women Act.

The Violence Against Women Act was passed by Congress in 1994 as part of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act. Reauthorized in 2000 and 2005, its purpose is to "improve criminal justice responses to domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking and to increase the availability of services for victims of these crimes." In 1995, the Office on Violence Against Women was created under the U.S. Department of Justice to help implement VAWA provisions by steering financial and technical assistance to communities that are developing programs to help women who have been victims of violence.

In 2009, Congress appropriated $389 billion for programs that are administered by the Office on Violence Against Women. The conference report bill drafted by lawmakers in December that would allocate money for the organization in 2010 provides $418.5 million--a $29.5 million increase. Congress specifically increased the amount of money going to STOP (Services, Training, Officers, and Prosecutors) grants, sexual assault victims services, and civil legal assistance.

The House and Senate still have to vote on the final version of the bill, which President Obama then has to sign before it becomes a law. Until then, we rate this one In the Works.

Sources: Committee on Appropriations, Summary: FY 2010 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations , Accessed December 17, 2009.

Committee on Appropriations, Summary: FY 2009 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations , Accessed December 17, 2009.

U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women: Budget Tables , Accessed December 17, 2009.