After VAWA’s recent reauthorization, the focus now turns to the annual funding (“appropriations”) process to ensure that all of VAWA’s programs receive the money that they need to provide services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. The first step in the appropriations process involves Members of Congress circulating “Dear Colleague” letters asking their fellow Members to support certain funding priorities. Representatives Moore (D-WI), Schakowsky (D-IL), and Conyers (D-MI) have just circulated a letter in support of

The Senate Armed Services Subcommittee held a hearing on military sexual assault in March.  This is not a new issue- it is continuous and often in the shadows.  Women and men who experience military sexual assault often experience victimization at three levels — first by perpetrator; second by military’s failure to protect and prosecute and third by Veterans Affairs regarding benefits.  Statistics below illustrate the scope of military sexual assault. It is estimated that 19,000 incidents of rape and sexual assault