Call your members of congress today!
Congress MUST pass a COVID-19 relief package that includes not only economic support for unemployed, underemployed, and low-income families but also funding and policies specifically addressing the unique needs of survivors.
In previous COVID-19 relief packages, Congress provided no relief funding for survivors of sexual assault, for community-based culturally-specific organizations serving survivors in Communities of Color who are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, or for tribal victim service programs. The CARES Act provided some, but insufficient, funding for domestic violence organizations. COVID-19 has caused a devastating increase in interpersonal violence and must be addressed through the next COVID-19 relief package.
We need your help to make sure the relief package Congress is currently working on includes critical funding and support for survivors. Call your Members of Congress and tell them they must recognize and meet the needs of domestic violence and sexual assault survivors.
First, call 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected to your Senators.
Then call 202-225-3121 and ask to be connected to your Representative.
If you don’t know who your Members of Congress are, enter your address HERE.
Tell them the following: “My name is [your name], and I am calling from [your city and, if you are a victim advocate, your program]. The American people are relying on you to enact another COVID-19 relief package. This package must meet the needs of survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. It needs to include flexible funding for the Sexual Assault Services Program; update the Victims of Crime Act to stabilize the Crime Victims Fund to prevent cuts; provide flexible funding for culturally specific domestic violence and sexual assault organizations through the FVPSA office; include flexible funding for FVPSA; and provide economic stability for survivors who have to leave their jobs due to violence.”
Feel free to customize the above script if you feel comfortable doing so. Tag @our3inc on Twitter and IG and let us know what your Members of Congress said!