U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today was joined by Maryland domestic violence and early education organizations to announce funds in the federal checkbook to support women, children and families included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2014, legislation she coauthored which was signed into law week by President Obama.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Senator Mikulski was joined by leaders and members of the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence, the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault, and the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention in a conference call to announce the Appropriations law includes $417 million, an increase of $29 million over sequester levels, to support critical domestic violence programs nationwide. These Violence Against Women (VAWA) federal grants make important investments in communities working to end domestic violence and sexual assault. In fiscal year 2013, Maryland received $8.2 million in federal VAWA grants.
“This is a compelling human need. No woman in this country should live in fear that her husband or boyfriend will hurt or kill her or her kids,” Senator Mikulski said. “I have zero tolerance for domestic violence. If you are beaten and abused, you should have somewhere to turn for help and a path to recovery. These funds in the federal checkbook will help combat domestic abuse, dating violence and sexual assault. By providing robust support for grant programs that focus on early prevention and intervention, we will help protect women and their families from continued abuse.”
Domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking are crimes of epidemic proportions, exacting terrible costs on individual lives and our communities. Twenty-five percent of U.S. women report that they have been physically assaulted by an intimate partner during their lifetimes, one in six have been the victims of rape or attempted rape, and more than 16 million children are exposed to domestic violence each day. The cost of domestic violence exceeds $5.8 billion each year.
The law funds multiple competitive and formula grant programs that support training for police officers and prosecutors; state domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions; rape prevention programs; lethality assessment and homicide reduction initiatives; national domestic violence hotlines; battered women’s shelters and transitional housing support services; help for teens and young adults caught in abusive relationships; victims of child abuse; and funding for counselors of rape victims during trials.
As Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee as well as the Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Mikulski has been a staunch advocate for programs to combat domestic violence. As a trained social worker, Senator Mikulski has seen the impact of domestic violence on children and families.
HEAD START
Senator Mikulski was joined by leaders and members of the Maryland Head Start Association, Head Start of Washington County, Inc., Prince George’s County Public Schools, Baltimore County Head Start / Early Head Start and Catholic Charities Community Services in a conference call to announce the Appropriations law includes $8.6 billion to support Head Start and Early Head Start education programs. This funding is an increase of $1 billion over fiscal year 2013 sequester levels.
“Parents across the nation want childcare that is safe, affordable, accessible and high-quality. That’s what par
