DVIP’s Call To Action: Contact Congress for VOCA

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The Domestic Violence Intervention Program wants you to Contact Iowa’s U.S. Congressional delegation and urge them to NOT CUT VOCA funding! Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funds are currently the largest source of funds to victim service grants. Cutting VOCA would be detrimental to our ability to offer services to victims and survivors.

Call House And Senate Leadership

Ask them to act now to include the #VOCAFix in the budget deal

Here are some talking points:

  • Between Fiscal Years 2018 – 2019, Iowa was rewarded around $50 million in VOCA funds, which was distributed through the Crime Victim Assistance Division of the Iowa Attorney General’s Office. Of these funds, 283 grants were awarded, which served 158,793 victims in Iowa. None of this would have been possible without VOCA.
  • While the Crime Victim Assistance Division has been an exceptionally good administrator of these funds, they will be unable to insulate programs from potential VOCA cuts. If current funding levels are not sustained, victim service programs would likely have to lay off staff and greatly reduce services.
  • This will have an especially negative impact on survivors who are most vulnerable, including Black, Brown, and Indigenous Iowans already struggling to overcome the dual pandemics of COVID-19 and racism. This also means less accessible services for survivors living in rural areas.

You can dial the U.S Capitol switchboard and ask to be transferred to your Rep’s or Senator’s office. Just dial: (202) 224-3121.

Email House and Senate Leadership

Ask them to act now to include the #VOCAFix in the budget deal.

Tell them:

“Cuts to the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) in the fiscal year 2021 spending bill would be catastrophic for domestic violence programs including the Domestic Violence Intervention Program which serves eight counties in Southeastern Iowa, namely Iowa, Cedar, Henry, Van Buren, Johnson, Des Moines, Washington and Lee counties. Domestic violence programs across the state would have to reduce their services, lay off staff, or close down if they lose any more VOCA funding. Victims in danger would not have access to emergency shelter, housing, legal assistance, counseling and more. 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.”

Contact Information for Iowa Delegation

 
Senator Charles Grassley

Email staff: Evelyn Fortier; Evelyn_Fortier@finance.senate.gov

Phone: 202-224-3744 (leave message with person who answers or voice mail)

Senator Joni Ernst

Email staff: Corey Becker; Corey_Becker@ernst.senate.gov

Phone: 202-224:3254 (leave message with person who answers or voice mail)

Rep. Abby Finkenauer

Email staff: Steffanie Bezruki; steffanie.bezruki@mail.house.gov

Phone: 202-225-5476 (leave message with person who answers or voice mail)

Rep. Dave Loebsack

Email staff: Erin Schnell; erin.schnell@mail.house.gov

Phone: 202-6576 (leave message with person who answers or voice mail)

Rep. Cindy Axne

Email staff: Denise Fleming; denise.fleming@mail.house.gov

Phone: 202-225-2911 (leave message with person who answers or voice mail)

Rep. Steve King

Email staff: Suanne Edmiston; suanne.edmiston@mail.house.gov

Phone: 202-225-4426 (leave message with person who answers or voice mail)