Warner, Kaine Announce Over $5 Million In Federal Funding To Support Victims Of Sexual Assault, Combat Violence Against Women

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $5,285,635 in federal grant funding for the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) to help law enforcement, court personnel, and victim services organizations support victims of sexual assault and their families, enhance victim protection and safety, and curb violent crimes against women. This funding comes from the Office on Violence Against Women's (OVW) STOP (Services, Training, Officers, and Prosecutors) Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program and the Sexual Assault Services (SAS) Formula Program. The STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program is made possible by the Violence Against Women Act, which Sens. Warner and Kaine successfully fought to reauthorize in 2022.

"Unfortunately, there's still far too much work to be done to combat sexual assault and domestic violence against women. As lawmakers, we have a responsibility to stand with survivors, ensure they have access to the support and resources they need, and hold perpetrators accountable," said the senators. "We're pleased to announce this federal funding, which will help communities across Virginia strengthen services for survivors, prevent violence from occurring, and support efforts to keep women and families safe."

The grant awards include:

• $4,269,937 through the STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program to develop and strengthen law enforcement, prosecution, and court strategies to reduce violent crimes against women, apprehend and prosecute perpetrators effectively, and strengthen victim services in cases involving domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
• $1,015,698 through the SAS Formula Program to support rape crisis centers and nonprofit organizations that provide core services, intervention, and related assistance to victims of sexual assault. This funding will provide intervention, advocacy, accompaniment, support services, and related assistance for adult, youth, and child victims of sexual assault, family and household members of victims, and others affected by sexual violence.

Sens. Warner and Kaine have long fought for efforts that support survivors of sexual assault and combat violence against women. Both senators strongly supported reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which successfully passed Congress and was reauthorized in 2022. In 2020, the senators announced more than $5 million in federal funding to reduce domestic violence, dating violence, and sexual assault across Virginia. Sens. Warner and Kaine also sponsored the Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act, a law to aid domestic violence survivors and their pets included in the 2018 Farm Bill.

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