FVPSA Reauthorization Passes the House

FVPSA Reauthorization Passes the House

Today, thanks in large part to the leadership of Congresswoman Gwen Moore (Milwaukee), the House passed the reauthorization the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVSPA) as part of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA). This is not an appropriations bill; however, it provides the future federal funding structure for domestic violence programs across the nation.

Thanks to all of you who called your legislators to make this important achievement possible.

Watch Congresswoman Moore speak about the passage of FVPSA and recognize the work advocates in Wisconsin!

Action Needed on Appropriation Bills

Urge the Senate to Support Vital Funding Increases for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Programs

Thanks to your steadfast advocacy efforts earlier in the year, Congressional funding proposals for Fiscal Year 2011 include key increases in funding for programs that provide lifesaving services for victims of domestic and sexual violence. But these vital increases are now in jeopardy as Congress is considering passing a funding bill that would fund programs at current levels – levels that are lower than the Fiscal Year 2011 proposal.

As the gap between the demand for services and available resources continues to widen in this harsh economic climate, these funding increases are absolutely necessary to ensure that programs can keep their doors open for victims fleeing life-threatening violence.

Tell Congress that victims' lives are on the line – they must invest in these lifesaving and cost-effective services.

Take action now!

Please take five minutes to tell Senators Kohl and Feingold that domestic and sexual violence victims need them to include the proposed vital increases in their final Omnibus funding bill. The link above will provide contact information and talking points.

Background

Congress is currently working to finish its spending bills for Fiscal Year 2011. Senate funding bills passed earlier in this process included key increases to the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) and the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA). But Congress is now considering a funding measure (a "continuing resolution") that would maintain last year's funding levels instead. In order to secure the increases included earlier in the process, the Senate must pass an Omnibus Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2011. An Omnibus Appropriations bill is when all separate funding bills are rolled into one large bill, allowing the Senate to vote on all funding bills at once.

Please click here for more information on VAWA, VOCA and FVPSA.

State Supreme Court Split on Milwaukee Sick Pay Ordinance

Court of Appeals to Decide Whether Victims Can be Protected

Madison—Today, the Wisconsin Supreme Court announced it is evenly divided over a legal challenge to the Milwaukee Sick Pay Ordinance. The case now heads back to the Court of Appeals. The ordinance, which has never gone into effect, will allow workers in Milwaukee paid time off of work to recover from illness, to care for a sick family member or to take preventative action for domestic violence and sexual assault, such as seeking a restraining order or relocating.

The legal dispute originated after Milwaukee voters overwhelmingly voted in favor of the ordinance. The Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC), which campaigned against the victim and employee protection measure, challenged its validity in court. Throughout the proceedings, MMAC has argued that domestic and sexual violence are not health concerns and therefore could not be addressed in the ordinance.

Victim advocates reacted to the Supreme Court’s announcement.

“While we believe the Court should have affirmed the will of the voters and restored life-saving protections for victims, we are glad the Court of Appeals will soon decide this case,” said Jeanie Kurka Reimer, executive director of the Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault (WCASA).

“Domestic and sexual violence have long been recognized as major public health concerns. Last year, 67 people in Wisconsin were killed in domestic violence incidents; many thousands more were injured,” said Patti Seger, executive director of the Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence (WCADV). “Voters in Milwaukee understand that being subjected to domestic violence is every bit as much a threat to an individual’s health and wellbeing as an illness or disease.”

WCADV and WCASA submitted amicus briefs to both the Court of the Appeals and Supreme Court in support of the ordinance. The briefs draw upon extensive medical research that shows preventing repeat domestic and sexual violence improves victims’ short and long term health. Leading medical organizations, like the American Medical Association, recommend referring abused patients to programs offering legal and other advocacy services.

Advocates point out the ordinance could stem the recent rise in domestic violence, which has been attributed to the economy.

"Especially in this economic climate, victims stay in abusive environments because they lack the financial security to obtain safety," Seger continued. "Once it is implemented, the Milwaukee Sick Pay Ordinance will give victims latitude to take potentially life-saving actions, while not losing the income they need to survive free from abuse. If the Court of Appeals does not restore this protection, many victims will lose their jobs, become homeless and return to abusers, continuing the cycle of trauma and violence."

AIAA's Julia McLester Attends Historic Signing Ceremony at White House

Witnesses President Obama Sign the Tribal Law and Order Act

Last Friday, Julia McLester, Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Advocate at Wise Women Gathering Place and American Indians Against Abuse Board member, attended the White House signing of The Tribal Law and Order Act. Julia was there on behalf of AIAA, which was invited to send a representative to the historic event.

The Act will provide tools to tribal will provide tools to tribal justice officials,strengthen coordination among law enforcement agencies and increase accountability for perpetrators. It is a much-welcomed step toward making Indian communities safer. Because of jurisdictional barriers and neglect from federal authorities, many perpetrators who raped and assaulted Native American women were never brought to justice.

Julia was kind enough to share some of her pictures from the event. Also see below for a video of the ceremony. Lisa Marie Iyotte, a survivor of sexual assault, introduced President Obama. Her words are very moving and definitely worth watching.

Thank Senator Kohl For Increased Funding For Victim Services

Senate Appropriations Committee increased funding for lifesaving victim services

Thank Senator Kohl For Increased Funding For Victim Services	More Info
The Senate Appropriations Committee approved significant, needed increases to the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) fund annual distribution (called the "cap") in the Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) Appropriations bill. In this tough budget climate, these increases are a significant victory and a testament to your incredible advocacy on behalf of victims. Thanks to all who made calls, sent emails to Senator Kohl! The VAWA total in the Senate Appropriations bill is $468 million, which is a $45-million increase over fiscal year 2010. Highlights include: $207 million for states to fund services, training, officers, and prosecutors $50 million for legal assistance for victims $40 million for transitional housing $30 million for sexual assault services The VOCA cap was increased by $136 million, up to $841 million! Of course, this is just one of the first steps in the process, so we must continue to act to secure these increases in the final bill! What can you do now? Call Sen. Kohl today and say: Your name and the city and state you live in. "Thank you so much for supporting increased funding for the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) in the Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) Appropriations bill. Domestic and sexual violence victims in our community will be safer with these desperately needed resources." "We urge you to work to preserve these increases in the final bill." Sen. Kohl also sits on the Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over FVPSA and DELTA funding. Please also remind Sen. Kohl to: Please support $150 million for the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) in the Labor-Health and Human Services (LHHS) Appropriations subcommittee bill. Funding for Community Initiatives to Prevent Abuse/DELTA prevention grants, the National Domestic Violence Hotline, and other domestic violence programs is also very important. Next Steps This is one of the first steps in the process to secure funding increases. Watch this space for more information as the Appropriations bills move through the House Appropriations Committee, the full House and Senate and then to the President. We will call on you to make more calls as the process moves forward to ensure that these increases are maintained in the final bill. Thank you for taking action to support this critical funding for victims of domestic violence! Your voices have made a difference in the lives of victims! For more information, please email advocacy@nnedv.org.

Federal Court of Appeals Upholds Disarmament of Abusers

Yesterday, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the constitutionality of a federal law that prohibits individuals with misdemeanor convictions of domestic violence from owning firearms. Steve Skoien, a repeat batterer from Rock County, Wisconsin, challenged the validity of the federal statute after he was convicted for possessing a gun while on probation for a domestic violence offense. The Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence (WCADV) praised the court of appeals’ important ruling.

“The 7th Circuit's decision means victims and law enforcement officers in Wisconsin will continue to be protected by laws that keep guns out of the hands of abusers,” said Patti Seger, executive director of WCADV. “Numerous studies show victims are much more likely to be killed when abusers have access to guns.”

Opponents of gun restrictions argued the 2008 U.S. Supreme Court decision, United States v. Heller, rendered gun laws—like those applying to domestic abusers—unconstitutional. The 7thCircuit relied on language in the Heller decision that indicated these laws are constitutional.

The court wrote, “If...disqualification to non-violent felons (embezzlers and tax evaders, for example) is presumptively constitutional, as Heller said..., it is difficult to condemn [the law restricting abusers' access to guns], which...is limited to violent crimes."

The court also ruled that “logic and data establish a substantial relation between” the law and the goal of preventing repeat domestic violence homicides. It noted, “The presence of a gun in the home of a convicted domestic abuser is strongly and independently associated with an increased risk of homicide.
Researchers have concluded that an abused woman is six to eight times more likely to be killed if a gun is in her home.”

The Supreme Court recently held the core of the second amendment allows law-abiding citizens to protect themselves in their homes,” said Seger. “Domestic abusers by definition have injected violence in the home and put their families at risk. Just as law-abiding citizens have a right to own a gun for self-defense in their homes, domestic violence victims have the right to be free in their homes from the terror and increased risk of death that comes when abusers have guns.”

Seger said the 7th Circuit’s decision should spur policymakers to better enforce the restrictions. Last legislative session two bills would have improved the ability of Wisconsin police to enforce the laws. The bills did not pass the state senate.

“Between 2000-2008, 156 Wisconsinites have been killed by domestic abusers who had easy access to guns,” Seger continued. “Some of these victims might still be alive if current gun restrictions were vigorously enforced. The court's decision confirms that our legislators and elected officials should act decisively to keep guns out of the hands of violent abusers.”

WCADV speaks out on the Arizona immigration law

WCADV has taken two actions against Arizona Senate Bill 1070, which was recently signed into law by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer. Among other things, the legislation allows law enforcement officers to detain anyone that they reasonably suspect is present in the country without documentation.

The ACLU, other groups and citizens are challenging the constitutionality of Senate Bill 1070. WCADV signed on to a legal brief discussing the chilling effect the legislation will have on immigrant victims. Research shows that immigration polices such as those included in Senate Bill 1070 result in victims choosing not to report abuse to the police and choosing not to seek help from victim service providers. The following is WCADV's statement of interest for the brief:

The Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence (WCADV) is the statewide membership organization that represents local domestic violence victim programs and survivors. WCADV is committed to addressing the unique barriers that force immigrant domestic violence victims to remain with abusers. To that end, WCADV and its member programs assist victims with accessing federal immigration remedies, including VAWA self-petitions and U visas. SB 1070 will exacerbate the challenges and injustices immigrant victims face when attempting to live free of abuse and frustrate the federal immigration provisions upon which victims rely. As many victims and their children must flee across state lines, these effects will be felt in Wisconsin and across the nation.

Also at its June 21st meeting, the WCADV Board endorsed a statement regarding Senate Bill 1070.
As a voice for survivors of abuse, the Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence (WCADV) is opposed to the passage and implementation Arizona Senate Bill 1070. The law’s measures invite racial profiling, amplify the bigotry that surrounds the immigration issue and deepen the oppression of immigrant domestic violence victims in Arizona.

As an act of solidarity with immigrant victims and as a means to affect the repeal of Senate Bill 1070, WCADV encourages domestic violence victim advocates and programs to avoid travel to Arizona and patronizing businesses in that state.