Support for VAWA, stalking victims, and our most vulnerable citizens: Civic action to-do list for 8-6-18

3. Support VAWA 2018

Domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking are crimes that continue to devastate families and impact communities across our nation. The Violence Against Women Act is about to expire and it is time for Congress to come together and pass a bill to close the current gaps in the law that leave many victims vulnerable. The new bill , introduced in July by Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, contains critical improvements that will strengthen survivors’ access to housing, ensure that abusers cannot access guns, close loopholes to allow Tribal courts to prosecute non-native offenders, and increase the number of youth receiving rape prevention education. This modest enhancement bill should be supported by members of Congress from both sides of the aisle, but we need your help in getting bipartisan support. To learn more about the bill and the ways to get engaged, sign up for JWI’s webinar on Grassroots Organizing for VAWA 2018 !

2. Stand Up for Stalking Victims

Convicted stalkers should not be able to purchase or possess firearms, but yet they can and they are. The Center for American Progress found that there are at least 16,399 convicted stalkersin 25 states that are still able to have a gun. Call yourRepresentative and Senators and tell them to co-sponsor the Protecting Domestic Violence and Stalking Victims Act in the Senate and the Zero Tolerance for Domestic Abusers in the House of Representatives to close this dangerous loophole!

1. Budget to Aid Our Most Vulnerable

Everyone in this country should be able to access affordable healthcare, food, and housing, and it is the responsibility of Congress to fund the programs that provide these critical needs. Now through September, Congress must pass a budget for all federal programs, including those that compose the social safety net. Call your Senators and Representative and tell them to follow through on the commitment they made earlier in the year to increase funding for Medicare and Medicaid, federal nutrition assistance programs like SNAP, affordable housing programs, and Social Security Disability Insurance. Hold Congress accountable in their duty to protect the most vulnerable!