Shaheen Lauds $1 Million Boost in Federal Funding for New Hampshire Domestic & Sexual Assault Survivors, Renews Call for VAWA Reauthorization

**As the Lead Democrat of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that Funds the Office on Violence Against Women, Shaheen has Repeatedly Secured Record-Level Funding for Programs Supporting Survivors**

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), the lead Democrat of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), lauded the $1 million boost in funding for OVW programs in New Hampshire to support domestic and sexual assault survivors. In fiscal year (FY) 2019, New Hampshire received or will receive $3,857,177 in federal funds, which is nearly $1 million above the FY 2018 funding level of $2.89 million.

“Preventing and stopping domestic and sexual violence— and supporting survivors as they heal and seek justice—must be a top policy priority in this country,” said Senator Shaheen. “This boost in federal investments for New Hampshire and our community partners is an important step toward meeting that goal, and as the lead Democrat of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that provides this funding, it will continue to be a top concern for me.” 

In committee-approved funding legislation for fiscal year 2020, Shaheen secured the highest funding amount ever for VAWA programs – for the third year in a row – totaling $500 million. Shaheen also renewed her call to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, which expired in February. 

“While this funding is critical, more work is needed to rid the scourge of sexual and domestic violence from our society and an important piece in that effort is to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act,” continued Shaheen. “Political games that are stonewalling this legislation put the safety of survivors at risk and it needs to end – Leader McConnell needs to stop gambling with the safety of women and their children and call a vote immediately.” 

“This federal funding is crucial to our local crisis centers who rely on these resources to provide life-saving services to survivors including emergency housing and hospital accompaniment after an assault,” said Amanda Grady Sexton, Director of Public Affairs for NHCADSV. “We appreciate Senator Shaheen’s continued advocacy to deliver these federal dollars back to New Hampshire.”

Senator Shaheen has led efforts in Congress to safeguard the Office on Violence Against Women and programs operated under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). As the lead Democrat of the Senate Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Shaheen has repeatedly negotiated record-level federal funding to support grants provided through the Office on Violence Against Women. Shaheen fought to reauthorize VAWA in 2013, working to help end the gridlock that had prevented its passage, and has continued to urge Senate Republican leadership to consider the House-passed VAWA reauthorization legislation. The only woman on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Shaheen has been a relentless advocate for women and girls in the United States and around the world. In the last Congress, Senator Shaheen led the bipartisan effort to reintroduce the International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA), which would ensure combating gender-based violence around the world remains a top diplomatic and development priority for the United States.