This week, a group of over 100 Members of Congress sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi advocating for the protection of funding opportunities through the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). The group is led by U.S. Representatives Young Kim, Josh Gottheimer, Debbie Dingell, and Gwen Moore.
The OVW, founded through the bipartisan Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), manages essential grant programs aiding survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. These grants have long supported law enforcement, legal service providers, crisis centers, and other local organizations in safeguarding survivors and preventing abuse.
Rep. Young Kim emphasized the importance of these grants: “VAWA grants support law enforcement and nonprofit organizations uplifting domestic violence survivors and their loved ones, which is why I voted in favor of VAWA reauthorization in 2021. Reining in federal spending is a good thing, but we cannot pull the rug out from under organizations relying on this funding to support domestic violence victims.” She urged the Department of Justice to provide guidance during this period.
Rep. Kim backed the House’s passing of the VAWA Reauthorization Act of 2021 (H.R. 1620) and the Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act (H.R. 2119), reinforcing her commitment to supporting domestic violence survivors and empowering women and mothers.
The complete letter is available for public review.
