Slaughter Says Sequester Will Have Negative Effect on Domestic Violence Programs
Congresswoman Louise Slaughter was in Rochester to praise the passing of the the strengthened Violence Against Women Act, but Slaughter says the sequester will impact funding to programs and services to support those affected by domestic violence.
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Slaughter says it could be a hefty blow. She estimates that $20 million will be cut from the Violence Against Women Act.
Slaughter is the original author of VAWA and on Thursday, the House of Representatives voted to extend the laws protection to immigrant victims, Native Americans, and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
More than 100 domestic violence advocates and social workers got together Friday as part of the 14th Annual Domestic Violence Consortium Legislative Breakfast. They praised the Violence Against Women Act and its direct assistance to victims of domestic violence.
Those here know that funding levels for support services is already a challenge, and that the sequester and cuts across the board will make it even more challenging to
help those who need it.
"In '94, we were not talking about stalking or date rape or what was happening in college campuses. Certainly the new things in this bill answer today's questions more in than the other bill, but $20 million dollars will be taken from this measure, the Violence Against Women Act, and that is a hefty cut," said Rep. Slaughter, (D).
"Every dollar that we spend on trying to prevent and support victims of domestic violence is an essential dollar, so the loss of even one has a significant impact, but we are grateful that VAWA has passed and that that money will continue to flow as it is available into the services into this county," said Allison O'Malley, chair of the Monroe County Domestic Violence Consortium.
Violence Against Women Act funding is used for more than two dozen programs, from prevention efforts and legal assistance to services for children exposed to violence.
It's estimated that the act not only saves lives, it also saves money in averted social costs.