Friends,
In November, we shared an action alert, urging you as our supporters to contact your members of Congress, encouraging them to support a fix to Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funds by the end of 2020. The Crime Victims Fund, enacted by VOCA, provides vital funding to Safe Harbor and other victim services organizations across the United States.
We are disappointed and disheartened to share that Congress failed to act to secure funding to the Crime Victims Fund at the end of 2020, leaving critical funding for victim services insecure. This statement from the South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault explains where things currently stand and what is at stake.
A new bill has just been introduced in the Senate to fix VOCA. We encourage all community members who believe in Safe Harbor's mission and vision to reach out to your Members of Congress, urging them to take immediate and swift action to address this issue, amending the VOCA statute to direct penalties and fines from non-prosecution and deferred prosecution agreements in to CVF, sustaining it with no burden to taxpayers.
This action alert from NNEDV allows you to email your representatives and senators with this messaging with a simple click! If you would prefer to craft your own message, here are direct links to reach out to your Senators and House Representative. If you are in South Carolina, here are direct links to contact Senator Tim Scott and Senator Lindsay Graham. If you live in the Greenville/Spartanburg area, here is a direct link to contact House Representative William Timmons. If you live in the Pickens/Anderson/Oconee area, here is a direct link to contact House Representative Jeff Duncan.
Your voice matters, and we are deeply grateful for your support.
