SYRACUSE, N.Y.— Today, U.S. Reps. John Katko (NY-24) and Anthony Brindisi (NY-22), urged House and Senate leaders to prioritize additional resources in any future COVID-19 relief package for organizations on the front lines in preventing domestic violence and sexual assault.
Over the past few weeks, Reps. Katko and Brindisi have spoken with representatives from local organizations such as Vera House, the Young Women’s Christian Association, and the House of the Good Shepherd, to discuss the unique challenges and barriers they face as they work to provide emergency services to victims in Central New York amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
With increasing restrictions on their ability to provide services, limitations on support through the justice system, and growing strains on available resources for maintaining the safety of survivors and staff, organizations in Central New York are in dire need of additional resources to protect survivors and support service providers.
Moreover, reports nationwide have shown an increase in domestic violence cases, and an uptick in calls to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, indicating the need for assistance for organizations that provide support services.
While Reps. Katko and Brindisi supported the inclusion of $45 million for the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) and $2 million for the National Domestic Violence Hotline, in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, in order to sufficiently address the concerns of local domestic violence shelters and rape crisis centers, the lawmakers today urged additional resources to support these organizations.
Reps. Katko and Brindisi wrote,“In our districts in Central New York, service providers and advocates are working hard to ensure the safety of survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Organizations like Vera House, the Young Women’s Christian Association, the House of the Good Shepherd, and many others have adapted their procedures to maintain services and respond to the needs of our community. It is critical that the Federal Government provide support for these organizations, their mission, and their partners nationwide.”
Vera House Inc., Executive Director Randi Bregman said, “We appreciate Congressmen Katko and Brindisi advocating for the needs of domestic violence programs and rape crisis centers in the midst of these very challenging times. We are in desperate need of additional support to ensure that we can continue providing essential services.”
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, with a growing number of individuals in Central New York and across the country forced to shelter in place or quarantine with abusive partners or spouses, last week Reps. Katko and Brindisi also joined a bipartisan effort in urging House and Senate leaders to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)— bipartisan legislation that has helped protect and support millions of Americans who have faced domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
The full text of Reps. Katko and Brindisi’s request can be found below:
April 15, 2020
Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader McCarthy, Leader McConnell, and Leader Schumer,
As Congress considers additional legislation in response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, we write to respectfully request the inclusion of additional resources for organizations on the front lines of the fight against domestic violence and sexual assault.
For domestic violence shelters and rape crisis centers, the COVID-19 pandemic presents unprecedented barriers to providing emergency services to those in need. Service providers must contend with increasing restrictions on their ability to provide victim-oriented services, limitations on the availability of support through the justice system, and growing strains on available resources for maintaining the safety of survivors and staff. Unfortunately, all of these issues are compounded by dire concerns that barriers created by the COVID-19 pandemic will prevent individuals from escaping the immediate dangers of abuse.
In our districts in Central New York, service providers and advocates are working hard to ensure the safety of survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Organizations like Vera House, the Young Women’s Christian Association, the House of the Good Shepherd, and many others have adapted their procedures to maintain services and respond to the needs of our community. It is critical that the Federal Government provide support for these organizations, their mission, and their partners nationwide.
Although we are pleased that the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provided $45 million for the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) and $2 million for the National Domestic Violence Hotline, additional resources are needed to protect survivors and support service providers. In addition to further funding for FVPSA and the National Domestic Violence Hotline, we request that further legislation on COVID-19 include increased funding for programs provided under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Domestic violence shelters and rape crisis centers deserve our support in this unprecedented public health emergency, and increased funding for these programs will ensure their ability to continue responding to the needs of survivors in Central New York, and across the country.
Thank you for your time and consideration of this request.
missing or outdated ad config
