Slaughter Announces $650,000 Grant Award to Combat Violence Against Women

Press Release

Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (NY-28) today announced that Monroe County has been awarded a $650,000 Department of Justice grant, funding efforts to combat violence against women. The grant, which was issued through the Justice Department's Office on Violence Against Women, is a component of the Violence Against Women Act -- legislation that Slaughter co-authored with former U.S. Senator Joe Biden.

"I am so pleased to see the practical local impact that this groundbreaking legislation is having on efforts to end domestic violence," said Slaughter. "By supporting efforts to ensure the safety of victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking, this grant will go a long way towards providing greater protection for all those who suffer as a result of these heinous crimes."

In addition to expanding victim protections, the grant specifically supports the creation and enhancement of collaborative partnerships between criminal justice agencies, victim service providers and community organizations which respond to sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking.

Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which celebrated its 18th anniversary yesterday, continues to be in limbo in the House of Representatives. The Senate passed a bipartisan bill which strengthened protections for immigrant women, Native American communities and members of the LGBT community, but the Republican majority in the House refused to consider that bill, instead passing one that would actually roll back protections for the first time in the history of the law. On June 5, Slaughter sent a letter to Congressional leadership urging them to move past politics and send a strong VAWA reauthorization bill that includes additional protections to the President for his signature.

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