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Federal Sexual Assault Service Program Appropriations (SASP)

Immediate Action Needed

The Senate passed the Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) FY 2010 Appropriations bill on November 5, 2009. That means that the Senate and the House will begin conferencing on the differences between the two bills. The Senate has a slightly higher appropriation for SASP: $15 million for FY 2010. We need the House to go to the Senate figure during this conference process. Below is a sample letter to Rep. David Obey (D-WI) who is a member of the House CJS committee asking him to support the Senate funding level. Please use this letter as an example to write to this Senator.

Dear Representative Obey,
I am writing on behalf of ( ).

We first want to thank you for your longstanding commitment to fight for all Wisconsinites. This is truly an exciting time as you and many of your colleagues are striving to make dramatic public policy improvements in Washington D.C.

We are writing at this time to request that you support the Senate funding level of $15 million for the Sexual Assault Service Program (SASP) which was authorized in the Violence Against Women Act, as that appropriation level is debated in the days to come through the Commerce, Justice, Science Fiscal Year 2010 Appropriations Act.

The landmark VAWA legislation of 2005 created a desperately needed federal funding stream for direct services for sexual assault victims. SASP assures rape crisis centers have the necessary resources to continue providing vital services to all victims of sexual violence – men, women and children.

According to the 2006 National Violence Against Women Survey, 1 out of every 6 women and 1 out of every 33 men has been raped in her or his lifetime. Every 2.5 minutes someone is sexually assaulted in the United States, and young people ages 16–24 are raped and sexually assaulted at rates higher than any other age group. While rape crisis centers and other organizations have made tremendous progress toward ensuring that sexual assault victims receive the services they need, these agencies’ ability to serve the needs of all victims of sexual violence – both female and male, young and old – has historically been hampered by a significant lack of resources. Particularly in these difficult economic times, more victims of sexual assault are coming forward for help than ever before.

The Sexual Assault Services Program not only provides funds for service providers, but it also makes resources available to state and territory sexual assault coalitions who work to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of local programs. Funding is also directed to Native American tribes as well as culturally-specific organizations to better reach and serve victims in communities that have been historically underserved.

We do appreciate the many difficult funding priorities that face Congress this year; however, we strongly urge you to support a $15 million appropriation for the Sexual Assault Services Program for FY 2010 so victims of sexual assault can receive the services and support they need as they navigate the necessary medical, criminal justice and social support systems.

Thank you very much for your time, and your continued hard work.

Sincerely, Your Name

If you have any questions about the bill, committee members, or the process involved here, please call John Keckhaver, WCASA lobbyist at 608 395–1805.