VOCA Fix, Infrastructure, and Housing: Your civic action to-do list for 7-19-21
3. Survivors’ access to emergency shelter, housing, legal assistance, counseling, and other lifesaving resources via the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) is on the line.
In a nutshell: The bipartisan VOCA Fix Act solves the victim services funding crisis by redirecting monetary penalties from deferred and non-prosecution agreements to the VOCA fund. Finally, the Senate has agreed to a vote on the bill to restore funding to these integral programs, likely tomorrow.
Take action: Use this toolkit to call, email, and tweet at your senators to urge them to prevent cuts to VOCA funding by supporting the #VOCAFix and opposing an amendment by Senator Toomey that would kill the bill.
2. Infrastructure modernization is essential of our long-term economic growth and improved quality of life.
In a nutshell: Congress must make large investments in both physical infrastructure and our nation’s human infrastructure to create safe communities in which all Americans can thrive.
Take action: Tell your senators to support a vote on Wednesday to begin debate on the bipartisan infrastructure proposal and to commit to the chamber’s unified budget plan that includes an expansion of Medicare benefits and a boost to federal safety net programs.
1. There is a housing crisis across our country – more than 580,000 people are experiencing homelessness and 10.5 million households pay more than 50 percent of their income on rent.
In a nutshell: The Housing is Infrastructure Act of 2021 and the Ending Homelessness Act of 2021 would provide historic investments in accessible housing infrastructure and significantly reduce poverty.
Take action: Email your representative using our easy two-step system and tell them to co-sponsor both of these vital bills.
JWI released the most comprehensive national study on domestic violence and the Jewish community ever undertaken. As the domestic violence field moves toward survivor-centered and community-based responses to violence, the Jewish community can choose to do the same. Check out our full report.