Violence Against Women Act: History and Federal Funding

Violence Against Women Act: History and Federal Funding

Violence Against Women Act: History and
Federal Funding
Garrine P. Laney
Analyst in Social Policy
February 26, 2010
Congressional Research Service
7-5700
www.crs.gov
RL30871
CRS Report for Congress
P
repared for Members and Committees of Congress

Violence Against Women Act: History and Federal Funding

Summary
The Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005 (VAWA
2005) (P.L. 109-162) was enacted on January 5, 2006. Among other things, VAWA 2005
reauthorized existing VAWA programs and created many new programs. The act encourages
collaboration among law enforcement, judicial personnel, and public and private service
providers to victims of domestic and sexual violence; increases public awareness of domestic
violence; addresses the special needs of victims of domestic and sexual violence, including the
elderly, disabled, children, youth, and individuals of ethnic and racial communities; authorizes
long-term and transitional housing for victims; makes some provisions gender-neutral; and
requires studies and reports on the effectiveness of approaches used for certain grants in
combating violence.
VAWA programs are funded through annual appropriations for both the Departments of Justice
(DOJ) and Health and Human Services (HHS). President Barack Obama released his FY2011
budget on February 2, 2011, requesting funding of $649.36 million for violence against women
programs. For programs administered by DOJ, the President requests $457.00 million, of which
$187.50 million is for Services-Training-Officers-Prosecutors (STOP) formula grants and $25.00
million is for Transitional Housing Assistance grants. The FY2011 funding request for programs
administered by HHS is $192.36 million, of which $140.00 million is for Family Violence
Prevention/Grants for Battered Women’s Shelters and $5.00 million is for the National Domestic
Violence Hotline.
The Obama Administration requests FY2011 funding of $500,000 each for two new efforts to
address sexual and domestic violence and stalking in Indian Country: (1) Indian Country—Sexual
Assault Clearinghouse and (2) Indian Country—Regional Summits.
On December 16, 2009, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010 (P.L. 111-117; H.R. 3288)
was enacted, providing total FY2010 funding of $625.91 million for violence against women
programs, of which $444.50 million is for VAWA programs administered by DOJ and $181.41
million is for domestic violence programs under the Department of Health and Human Services.
The original VAWA, enacted in 1994 as Title IV of the Violent Crime Control and Law
Enforcement Act (P.L. 103-322), established within DOJ and HHS formula and discretionary
grant programs for state, local, and Indian tribal governments. The Violence Against Women Act
of 2000 (VAWA 2000; P.L. 106-386), reauthorized many VAWA programs, set new funding
levels, and created new grant programs to address sexual assaults on campuses and assist victims
of domestic abuse. The Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-36) and the
PROTECT Act (P.L. 108-21) authorized funding of both HHS and DOJ transitional housing
assistance programs for victims of domestic violence. This report will be updated to reflect
legislative activity.

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Violence Against Women Act: History and Federal Funding

Contents
Recent Developments.................................................................................................................. 1
History of the Violence Against Women Act ................................................................................ 1
The Family Violence Prevention Services Act ....................................................................... 1
Violence Against Women Act ................................................................................................ 1
Changes in Federal Criminal Law ......................................................................................... 2
Reauthorization of VAWA in the 109th Congress .......................................................................... 3
Funding for Violence Against Women Programs.......................................................................... 3
FY2011................................................................................................................................. 3
FY2010................................................................................................................................. 4
FY2009................................................................................................................................. 4
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ...................................................................... 5
VAWA Historical Funding (Covering FY2001-FY2008) ........................................................ 5
FY2008........................................................................................................................... 5
FY2007........................................................................................................................... 6
FY2006........................................................................................................................... 7
FY2005........................................................................................................................... 7
FY2004........................................................................................................................... 8
FY2003........................................................................................................................... 8
FY2002........................................................................................................................... 8
FY2001........................................................................................................................... 9

Tables
Table 1. Funding for Violence Against Women Programs, FY2009-FY2010 .............................. 10
Table 2. FY2011 Authorizations and Budget Request for
Violence Against Women Programs........................................................................................ 16

Contacts
Author Contact Information ...................................................................................................... 20

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Violence Against Women Act: History and Federal Funding

Recent Developments
President Barack Obama’s FY2011 budget request is $649.36 million for violence against women
programs, of which $457.00 million is for programs administered by the Department of Justice
(DOJ) and $192.36 million is for programs administered by the Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS). (For further details on the funding of violence against women programs, see the
section later in this report on “Funding for Violence Against Women Programs.”)
On December 16, 2009, the President signed into law the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010
(P.L. 111-117; H.R. 3288), providing total FY2010 funding of $625.91 million for violence
against women programs, of which $444.50 million is for VAWA programs administered by DOJ
and $181.41 million is for domestic violence programs under the Department of Health and
Human Services. The act provides $210.00 million for the STOP grant program and $130.05
million for family violence/battered women’s shelters.
History of the Violence Against Women Act
While violence against women was identified as a serious problem in the 1970s, legislation
proposing a federal response to such violence was first introduced in the 1980s. Congressional
action to address gender-related violence culminated in the enactment of two major laws—The
Family Violence Prevention and Services Act1 (FVPSA) and the Violence Against Women Act
(VAWA), which is Title IV of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994.2
While appropriations for programs of both of these acts are included in this report, the focus of
the discussion is VAWA.
The Family Violence Prevention Services Act
Enacted in 1984, the FVPSA assists states in preventing incidents of family violence and provides
shelter and related assistance to victims of family violence and their dependents. The act
authorizes programs that provide technical assistance and training on family violence to states,
local public agencies, nonprofit private organizations, and others.3
Violence Against Women Act
The Violence Against Women Act, originally enacted in 1994 as Title IV of the Violent Crime
Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (P.L. 103-322), emphasizes funding of enforcement
efforts as well as educational and social programs to prevent crime. The focus of the funding is on
local government programs, an approach that the sponsors of the legislation believed was the
most promising technique for reducing crime and violence. The largest funded VAWA program,
the Services-Training-Officers-Prosecutors (STOP) formula grants, is to help state governments,
Indian tribal governments, and units of local government strengthen law enforcement,

1 P.L. 98-457; 42 U.S.C. § 10401
2 P.L. 103-322; 42 U.S.C. § 13701
3 For a fuller discussion of the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act, see CRS Report R40473, Family Violence
Prevention and Services Act: Programs and Funding, by Garrine P. Laney.
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prosecution, and victims’ services in cases involving violent crimes against women. These STOP
grants may be used to provide personnel, training, technical assistance, data collection, and other
equipment to increase the apprehension, prosecution, and adjudication of persons committing
violent crimes against women.
VAWA funding for FY1995 through FY2000 was authorized through the Violent Crime
Reduction Trust Fund (VCRTF), created under Title XXXI of P.L. 103-322. Authorization for
VCRTF expired at the end of FY2000. Nonetheless, most of the programs in VAWA received
appropriations for FY2001.4
On October 28, 2000, President William J. Clinton signed into law the Victims of Trafficking and
Violence Protection Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-386), of which Division B is the Violence Against
Women Act of 2000 (VAWA 2000). The Violence Against Women Act of 2000 continued to
support VAWA by reauthorizing existing programs and adding initiatives, including grants to
assist victims of dating violence, transitional housing for victims of violence, a pilot program
aimed at protecting children during visits with a parent who has been accused of domestic
violence, and protections from violence for elderly and disabled women. It also made technical
amendments, and required grant recipients to submit reports on the effectiveness of programs
funded by the grants to aid with the dissemination of information on successful programs. The
legislation amended the Public Health Service Act (P.L. 98-457) to require that certain funds be
used exclusively for rape prevention and education programs. Moreover, the bill made it easier
for a battered immigrant woman to leave the abuser and to help prosecute him. Under the old law,
battered immigrant women could be deported if they left abusers who are their sponsors for
residency and citizenship in the United States. VAWA 2000 created special rules for alien battered
spouses and children to allow them to remain in the United States.5
Changes in Federal Criminal Law
To help combat violence against women, the original VAWA rewrote several areas of federal
criminal law. Penalties were created for interstate stalking or domestic abuse in cases where an
abuser crossed a state line to injure or harass another, or forced a victim to cross a state line under
duress and then physically harmed the victim in the course of a violent crime. Additionally, the
law strengthened existing penalties for repeat sexual offenders and required restitution to victims
in federal sex offense cases. VAWA called for pretrial detention in federal sex offense or child
pornography felonies and allowed evidence of prior sex offenses to be used in some subsequent
trials regarding federal sex crimes. The law also set new rules of evidence specifying that a
victim’s past sexual behavior generally was not admissible in federal civil or criminal cases
regarding sexual misconduct. Provisions of the original VAWA allowed rape victims to demand
that their alleged assailants be tested for HIV, the virus that is generally believed to cause AIDS.
A federal judge can order such a procedure after determining that risk to the victim existed.
As in the original Act, VAWA 2000 created new stalking offenses, changing the law to create
penalties for a person who travels in interstate or foreign commerce with the intent to kill, injure,
harass, or intimidate a spouse or intimate partner, and who in the course of such travel commits or

4 For detailed information on the grant programs, the application process, and grant programs in each state, please
consult the Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women, at http://www.usdoj.gov/ovw/
ovwgrantprograms.htm.
5 See RL30559, Immigration: Noncitizen Victims of Family Violence, by Andorra Bruno and Alison Siskin.
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attempts to commit a crime of violence against the spouse or intimate partner. It also created
penalties for a person who causes a spouse or intimate partner to travel in interstate or foreign
commerce by force or coercion and in the course of such travel commits or attempts to commit a
crime of violence against the spouse or intimate partner. The bill added the intimate partners of
the victim as people covered under the interstate stalking statute, and made it a crime to use the
mail or any facility of interstate or foreign commerce to engage in a course of conduct that would
place a person in reasonable fear of harm to themselves or their immediate family or intimate
partner. Additionally, VAWA 2000 created penalties for any person who travels in interstate or
foreign commerce with the intent of violating a protection order or causes a person to travel in
interstate or foreign commerce by force or coercion and violates a protection order.6
Reauthorization of VAWA in the 109th Congress7
On January 5, 2006, President George W. Bush signed into law the Violence Against Women and
Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005 (VAWA 2005, P.L. 109-162). VAWA 2005
reauthorizes many existing programs for FY2007 through FY2011, and authorizes a number of
new programs for victims of domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The act
emphasizes collaboration among law enforcement, health and housing professionals, and women,
men, and youth alliances, and encourages community initiatives to address these issues. New
programs seek to focus on young victims of violence; improve the health care system’s response
to violence; inform the public and employers about domestic and dating violence, sexual assault,
and stalking; protect the privacy of victims of violence; provide housing assistance, including
public housing, for battered women and children; and support outreach efforts to underserved
populations such as ethnic, immigrant, and racial populations. In an effort to more closely
monitor the status and performance of some of these programs, VAWA 2005 provides for some
grant recipients to submit reports on policies and procedures they followed. The act also provides
funding for studies and research on effective interventions that prevent both acts and effects of
domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
Funding for Violence Against Women Programs
FY2011
President Obama’s FY2011 budget request for violence against women programs is $649.36
million, of which $457.00 million is for programs administered by DOJ and $192.36 million is
for programs administered by HHS. The President requests $187.50 million for the DOJ STOP
grant program, compared to FY2010 appropriations of $210.00 million. This is a net decrease for
STOP grants of $1.50 million, when one considers that in FY2010 both the transitional housing
assistance program and the National Institute for Justice (NIJ) were funded as set-asides under the

6 P.L. 106-386, Section 1107.
7 Provisions of VAWA legislation related to immigrant victims of violence (Title VIII) are not addressed in this report.
For information on these provisions, contact Andorra Bruno (7-7865) or Alison Siskin (7-0260). In addition, Title XI of
the legislation is the Department of Justice Reauthorization Act; see CRS Report RL33111, Department of Justice
Reauthorization: Provisions to Improve Program Management, Compliance, and Evaluation of Justice Assistance
Grants, by Nathan James.
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STOP grant program at $18.00 million and $3.00 million, respectively. For FY2011 funding, the
President requests separate line-items of $25.00 million for DOJ’s transitional housing assistance
program and $3.00 million for NIJ to conduct research on violence against Indian women.
For programs administered by HHS, the budget request is $130.05 million for the Family
Violence Prevention/Battered Women’s Shelters program, compared to FY2010 appropriations of
$127.78 million for the program. For the National Domestic Violence Hotline, the FY2011
request is $3.21 million, a slight increase above the FY2010 funding level. (See Table 2 for
FY2011 budget requests for violence against women programs.)
The President requests FY2011 funding of $500,000 each for two new efforts to address sexual
and domestic violence in Indian Country: (1) Indian Country—Sexual Assault Clearinghouse and
(2) Indian Country—Regional Summits. The Sexual Assault Clearinghouse is created to offer a
one-stop shop where tribes, at their request, could receive free onsite training and technical
assistance, which would enable the community to respond to events, treat victims, and promote
awareness of sexual assault. The Administration expects that eventually the clearinghouse would
track emerging trends in the field and assist in developing a global perspective on sexual assault
in Indian country. The regional summits would provide training on prosecuting federal cases of
sexual and domestic violence and stalking in Indian country and improve collaboration among
those federal and tribal entities that are charged with enhancing the safety of Indian women.
FY2010
On December 16, 2009, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010 (P.L. 111-117; H.R. 3288)
was enacted, providing total FY2010 funding of $625.91 million for violence against women
programs, of which $444.50 million is for VAWA programs administered by DOJ. Appropriations
for the DOJ STOP grant program are $210.00 million. For domestic violence programs under the
Department of Health and Human Services, the act provides $181.41 million in funding, as
follows: $3.21 million for the National Domestic Violence Hotline, $130.05 million for the
Battered Women’s Shelters program, $42.62 million for Rape Prevention programs, and $5.53
million for Community Initiative programs on Domestic Violence. (See Table 1.)
Actual appropriations for violence against women programs have tended to be less than the
amounts authorized in the law. For each of FY2007 through FY2010, the authorized funding level
for violence against women programs is as follows: $1,005.00 million for FY2007, $1,003.00
million for FY2008, $793.50 million for FY2009, and $793.50 million for FY2010.
FY2009
On March 11, 2009, the Omnibus Appropriations Act for FY2009 (P.L. 111-8) was enacted,
providing a total of $595.31 million for violence against women programs, of which $415.00
million and $180.31 million were for programs administered by DOJ and HHS, respectively. For
DOJ administered programs, the act provided $190.00 million for STOP grants, which included
set-asides of $18.00 million for transitional housing assistance, $1.88 million for the National
Institute of Justice, and $0.40 million for the Native Alaskan Liaison Office. For HHS programs,
the act provided $128.00 million for Grants for Battered Women’s Shelters and $3.00 million for
the National Domestic Violence Hotline programs.
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For FY2009 (as for FY2008, see below), President George W. Bush proposed to consolidate
formula and discretionary VAWA programs administered by the Office on Violence Against
Women (OVW) and certain victims of child abuse programs that are currently administered by
the Office of Justice Programs (OJP). The Administration stated that by consolidating VAWA
programs in this way, it would eliminate formulas and earmarks and create one flexible,
competitive discretionary grant program, called the Prevention and Prosecution of Violence
Against Women and Related Victim Services Program. In addition, the Bush Administration
stated that through a single application, grantees would be able to request funding for any of the
current programs, which would be listed as eligible purposes under this new consolidated
program. President Bush requested $280.00 million for this consolidated program. Senate
Appropriations Committee report language rejected the President’s proposal to consolidate VAWA
programs, stating that it ignored congressional intent to meet the needs of youth, native women,
communities of color, and victims of sexual violence, and to encourage collaborations among
these distinct groups in addressing various aspects of domestic and sexual violence, and thereby
strengthen intervention and prevention responses to victims, families, and communities.
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
Enacted on February 17, 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (P.L. 111-5)
provided additional FY2009 funding of $225.00 million for the Office on Violence Against
Women, of which $175.00 million was for STOP grants and $50.00 million was for the
transitional housing assistance program.
VAWA Historical Funding (Covering FY2001-FY2008)
FY2008
President George W. Bush signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY2008 (P.L. 110-161)
on December 26, 2007, which provided total funding of $572.47 million for violence against
women programs administered by DOJ and HHS. As established by VAWA 2005, the FY2008
authorization level for VAWA programs and studies administered by the Department of Justice
(DOJ) was $683.00 million; total FY2008 authorization for programs administered by HHS was
$320.00 million.
The President’s FY2008 total budget request for VAWA programs was $546.28 million ($370.00
million and $176.28 million for programs administered by DOJ and HHS, respectively). President
Bush’s FY2008 request included $2.97 million for the domestic violence hotline and $124.73
million for battered women’s shelters, two programs administered by HHS. According to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the President’s FY2008 budget request also
included funding for two violence against women initiatives that did not receive a specific line
item in the Administration’s budget.
DOJ Funding
The Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY2008 provided $400.00 million for VAWA programs
administered by DOJ. The act provided funding for several newly authorized programs by VAWA
2005. Programs such as services for children and youth exposed to violence, engaging men and
youth in preventing domestic, dating and sexual violence and stalking, and services to advocate
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for and respond to youth victims of violence received funding of $2.82 million each, while
research relating to violence against Indian women and the national tribal sex offender registry
received $0.94 million each. The court training and improvements to respond to victims of
violence and the sexual assault services programs, which were not funded in FY2007, received
FY2008 funding of $2.82 million and $9.40 million, respectively. For FY2008, funding for some
programs decreased slightly, including grants to encourage arrest policies, legal assistance for
victims improvements, and sex offender management.
Proposal to Consolidate VAWA Programs
In its FY2008 budget request, the DOJ proposed to consolidate VAWA programs administered by
the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) into one flexible, competitive discretionary grant
program, including three programs (Stalking Databases, Comprehensive Approaches to Sexual
Offender Management, and Sexual Assault Services) that are currently administered by the Office
of Justice Programs. In the DOJ budget justification language and on March 29, 2007 at a hearing
of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce-Justice-Science, DOJ stated that its
consolidation proposal would reduce the time grantees spent in applying for grants, eliminate
earmarks and formulas, and allow multiple domestic violence and sexual assault needs to be
addressed and dictated based on local conditions.
Both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, however, rejected this proposal. Senate
report language (S. 1745; S.Rept. 110-124) stated that VAWA programs are designed to meet
specific needs and to support collaboration among distinct groups to enable them to use their
expertise and resources in addressing different aspects of domestic and sexual violence. These
VAWA programs have many specific requirements and protections to ensure that a collaborative
effort with law enforcement, child protective services, health care, etc. is effective and remains
confidential, and that the safety of victims is maintained. According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee report, under the DOJ proposal, programs would have ceased to operate as Congress
intended, would have been less successful, and could have disadvantaged certain applicants for
VAWA funds, such as those in rural areas.
HHS Funding
The Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY2008 provided for a spending cut of 1.747% for
programs funded in the Labor-HHS-Education division of the act. Funding of $172.47 million for
violence against women programs administered by HHS reflects this spending cut. For FY2008,
the battered women’s shelters program received $122.55 million, while the national domestic
violence hotline received $2.92 million. FY2008 funding levels for these two program were
slightly below the FY2007 appropriations. Two programs administered by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention—the rape prevention and education grant and community initiative
programs on domestic violence—were funded at $42.00 million and $5.00 million, respectively.
FY2007
Total FY2007 funding of $558.92 million for VAWA programs was provided by the Revised
Continuing Appropriations Resolution (P.L. 110-5), which was enacted on February 15, 2007.
This resolution provided FY2007 appropriations of $382.57 million for violence against women
programs administered by DOJ and $176.35 million for programs administered by HHS, of which
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$124.73 million was for battered women’s shelters and $2.97 million was for the domestic
violence hotline.
For FY2007, President George W. Bush requested $543.32 million for violence against women
programs, of which $366.12 million and $177.20 million was for programs administered by DOJ
and HHS, respectively. The Administration requested $172.99 million for STOP grants, of which
$2.48 million was for the National Institute of Justice for research and evaluation of violence
against women and $14.86 million was for transitional housing assistance grants; the President
did not request funding for the Safe Start Program (Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention) which was authorized at $10.00 million. The President’s request for HHS-
administered programs included $125.00 million for battered women’s shelters and $3.00 million
for the domestic violence hotline.
FY2006
Total FY2006 appropriations for violence against women programs were $564.57 million, of
which $388.07 million was for programs administered by DOJ and $176.50 million was for
programs administered by HHS. (Total amounts for programs administered by both DOJ and
HHS reflected the across-the-board rescission reductions of 1% for FY2006 discretionary
appropriations.)
For FY2006, President George W. Bush requested a total of $515.00 million for violence against
women programs, of which $386.00 million was for programs administered by DOJ and $129.00
million was for programs administered by HHS. On November 22, 2005, President Bush signed
the Departments of State, Justice, and Commerce, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act,
FY2006 (P.L. 109-108; H.R. 2862). FY2006 funding for STOP grants was $184.91 million.
Transitional housing assistance was funded as a set-aside from STOP grants as in FY2005;
however, the amount of the FY2006 set-aside was $15.00 million, compared with the FY2005
set-aside of $12.30 million. Some other violence against women programs also received small
increases in funding for FY2006.
On December 30, 2005, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education,
and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006 (Labor-HHS-Ed Act) was enacted (P.L. 109-149;
H.R. 3010). The Labor-HHS-Ed Act provided total FY2006 appropriations of $176.50 million for
violence against women programs, including $124.73 million for the family violence/battered
women’s shelters program and $2.97 million for the national domestic violence hotline.
FY2005
On December 8, 2004, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 (P.L. 108-447) was enacted.
The act provided $384.20 million in FY2005 funding for violence against women programs
administered by DOJ. This amount included $185.00 million for the STOP grant program, of
which $12.30 million was for transitional housing assistance grants for victims of domestic
violence, stalking, or sexual assault. The act provided $179.50 million for programs administered
by HHS, of which $126.65 million was for the battered women’s shelters program and $3.25
million was for the national domestic violence hotline. Total FY2005 funding for violence against
women programs administered by DOJ and HHS was $563.70 million. The Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2005 mandated a funding reduction of 0.80% for some FY2005 discretionary
appropriations, which included VAWA funding. In addition, there was a 0.54% cut in Commerce-
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Justice-State discretionary appropriations for FY2005 that affected funding for violence against
women programs administered by DOJ. Total authorized funding for violence against women
programs for FY2002 was $626.80 million.
For FY2005, President George W. Bush requested a total of $514.11 million for violence against
women programs, compared to FY2005 authorization levels of $729.00 million. Of the requested
funding, $385.50 million was for grants administered by the DOJ and $128.65 million was for
programs administered by HHS. These violence against women programs addressed domestic
violence and improved services for victims and their dependents. The Bush Administration
requested $15.00 million for the transitional housing assistance programs as a set-aside under the
VAWA STOP Formula Grant Program.
FY2004
The Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY2004 became law on January 23, 2004 (P.L. 108-199;
H.R. 2673). Congress appropriated total FY2004 funding of $517.00 million for violence against
women programs. This compared to President Bush’s total request of $512.40 million for
violence against women grant programs. For violence against women programs that were
administered by DOJ, Congress provided $387.60 million. For domestic violence programs that
were administered by HHS, the conference agreement provided $129.40 million, of which
$126.40 million was for Grants for Battered Women’s Shelters and $3.00 million was for the
National Domestic Violence Hotline. (Note: these amounts were subject to a 0.59% across-the-
board rescission included in the act.) Congress also appropriated $15.00 million for the
transitional housing assistance grants program as a separate line-item. Total authorized funding
for violence against women programs for FY2002 was $627.30 million.
FY2003
Total FY2003 funds appropriated for violence against women programs were $519.98 million:
$390.17 million for Department of Justice programs and $129.81 million for HHS programs.
President Bush requested a total of $520.00 million for violence against women programs, of
which $390.00 million was for programs administered by DOJ and $127.00 million was for
programs administered by HHS. The Administration did not request funding for federal victims
counselors or the domestic violence task force. The President requested funding for two programs
that were not authorized for FY2003: safe havens for children pilot program and training
programs for medical personnel who perform sexual assault forensic exams. FY2003 funding
request for VAWA grants for battered women’s shelters, administered by HHS, was $125.00
million, the same amount appropriated in FY2002. Authorized funding for this program in
FY2003 was $175.00 million. Total authorized funding for violence against women programs for
FY2003 was $627.30 million.
FY2002
In FY2002, funding appropriated for violence against women programs totaled $517.22 million;
violence against women programs administered by DOJ received a total of $390.60 million, while
violence against women programs under HHS received $126.62 million. Within HHS, the
President requested funding for programs at FY2001 appropriations levels, and did not request
monies for the transitional housing grant program created in VAWA 2000. The President also
requested $44.00 million for rape prevention and Education grants; however, these grants were
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not specified by name in the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations
Act of FY2002. Rather, the Administration proposed that funding for these grants be included as
part of injury prevention grants. Congress provided $149.80 million for injury prevention grants.
Total authorized funding for violence against women programs for FY2002 was $642.30 million.
FY2001
For FY2001, the President requested $481.00 million and Congress appropriated $407.10 million
for violence against women programs, however, funding for programs created in the original act
did not truly decrease from FY2000 appropriation levels. Grants to Prevent Sexual Abuse of
Runaway and Homeless Youth were reauthorized in the Missing, Exploited, and Runaway
Children Protection Act (P.L. 106-71) and received appropriations of $15.00 million, prior to the
rescission, for FY2001. In addition, the Centers for Disease Control received $176.00 million for
prevention grants such as rape education and prevention and community domestic violence
programs, but the appropriations bill failed to specify amounts for the different programs. Total
authorized funding for violence against women programs for FY2001 was $667.50 million.

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Table 1. Funding for Violence Against Women Programs, FY2009-FY2010
($ in millions)
Program and Administrative
FY2009
FY2010
FY2010
FY2010
Agency
Enacted
Authorization
Budget Request
Enacted
STOP Grants Improvements (Sec.
$190.00a $225.00 $190.00a $210.00b
101) (42 U.S.C. 3793(a)(18) (OVW)
Transitional Housing Assistance
(18.00)a
40.00
(18.00)a (18.00)b
Grants for Victims of Domestic
Violence, Stalking, or Sexual Assault
(Sec. 602) (42 U.S.C. 13975) (OVW)
National Institute of Justice (for
(1.88)a

(3.00)a
(3.00)b
Research and Evaluation of Violence
Against Women )
Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies
60.00 75.00 60.00 60.00
(Sec. 102) (42 U.S.C. 3793(a)(19)
(OVW)
Legal Assistance for Victims
37.00 65.00 37.00 41.00
Improvements (Sec. 103) (42 U.S.C.
3796gg-6) (OVW)
Court Training and Improvements to
3.00 5.00 3.00 3.00
Respond to Victims of Violence (Sec.
105) (42 U.S.C. 14043) (OVW)
Privacy Protections for Victims of
0.00 5.00 0.00 0.00
Domestic, Dating, and Sexual
Violence, and Stalking (Sec. 107) (42
U.S.C. 14043b) (OVW)
Sex Offender Management
3.50 5.00 3.50 3.50
(Probation and Parole Officers
Training) (Sec. 1167) (42 U.S.C.
13941) (OJP)
National Stalker and Domestic
3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00
Violence Reduction Grants (Stalking
Databases) (Sec. 109) (42 U.S.C.
14032) (OVW)
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Program and Administrative
FY2009
FY2010
FY2010
FY2010
Agency
Enacted
Authorization
Budget Request
Enacted
Federal Victims Assistants (Sec. 110)
0.00 1.00 0.00 0.00
119 Stat. 2984 (USA)
Grants for Law Enforcement Training
0.00 10.00 0.00 0.00
(Sec. 111) (42 U.S.C. 14044f)c
Court Appointed Special Advocates
15.00 12.00 15.00 15.00
for Victims of Child Abuse (Sec.112)
(42 U.S.C. 13011) (OJP)
Grants for Outreach to
0.00 2.00 0.00 0.00
Underserved Populations (Sec. 120)
(42 U.S.C.14045) (OVW)
Sexual Assault Services Program
12.00 50.00 12.00 15.00
(Sec. 202) (42 U.S.C. 3796gg-9) (OJP)
Rural Domestic Violence and Child
41.00 55.00 41.00 41.00
Abuse Enforcement (Sec. 203) (42
U.S.C. 13971) (OVW)
Grants to Decrease Violence Against
6.75 10.00 6.75 6.75
Women with Disabilities (Sec. 204)
(42 U.S.C. 3796gg-7) (OVW)
Training and Services to End
4.25 10.00 4.25 4.25
Violence Against and Abuse of
Women Later in Life (Sec. 205) (42
U.S.C. 14041a) (OVW)
Services to Advocate For and
3.50 15.00 3.50 3.50
Respond to Youth Victims of
Violence (Sec. 303) (42 U.S.C.
14043c) (OVW)
Access to Justice for Youth (Sec.
0.00 5.00 0.00 0.00
303) (42 U.S.C. 14043c-1) (OVW)
Combating Domestic, Dating, and
0.00 5.00 0.00 2.50
Sexual Violence, and Stalking in
Middle and High Schools (STEP) (Sec.
303) (42 U.S.C. 14043c-3) (OVW)
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Program and Administrative
FY2009
FY2010
FY2010
FY2010
Agency
Enacted
Authorization
Budget Request
Enacted
Grants to Combat Violent Crimes on
9.50 15.00 9.50 9.50
Campus (Sec. 304) (42 U.S.C.
14045b) (OVW)
Safe Havens for Children Pilot
14.00 20.00 14.00 14.00
Program (Sec. 306) (42 U.S.C. 10420)
(OVW)
Grants to Assist Children and Youth
3.00 20.00 3.00 3.00
Exposed to Violence (Sec. 401) (42
U.S.C. 14043d-2) (OVW)
Development of Curricula and Pilot
0.00 7.00 0.00 0.00
Programs for Home Visitation
Projects (Sec. 401) (42 U.S.C.
14043d-3) (OVW)
Engaging Men and Youth in
3.00 10.00 3.00 3.00
Preventing Domestic, Dating, and
Sexual Violence, and Stalking (Sec.
401) (42 U.S.C. 14043d-4) (OVW)
Public Awareness Campaign (Sec.
0.00
d 0.00 0.00
403) (42 U.S.C. 14045c) (OVW)
Grants to Combat Violence Against
0.00 10.00 0.00 0.00
Women in Public and Assisted
Housing (Sec. 601) (42 U.S.C.
14043e-4) (OVW)
Grants for National Resource Center
1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
on Workplace Responses to Assist
Victims of Domestic and Sexual
Violence (Sec. 701) (42 U.S.C.
14043f) (OVW)
Analysis and Research on Violence
1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
Against Indian Women Baseline
Study (Sec. 904(a)) (42 U.S.C.
3796gg-10 note) (NIJ)
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Program and Administrative
FY2009
FY2010
FY2010
FY2010
Agency
Enacted
Authorization
Budget Request
Enacted
Tracking of Violence Against Indian
1.00 1.00e 1.00 1.00
Women—Access to Federal
Criminal Information Databases (Sec.
905a) (OVW) / National Tribal Sex
Offender Registry (Sec. 905b)
(OJP)(28 U.S.C. 534(a))
Training for Judicial Personnel and
2.50 0.00 2.50 2.50
Practitioners for Victims of Child
Abuse (42 U.S.C. 13024) (OJP)
Grants for Televised Testimony by
1.00
f 1.00 1.00
Victims of Child Abuse (42 U.S.C.
3793(a) (OJP)
Subtotal: Department of Justice
$415.00 $683.00 $415.00 $444.50
Training and Col aboration on
0.00 5.00 0.00 0.00
Intersection of Domestic Violence
and Child Maltreatment (Sec. 303)
(42 U.S.C. 14043c-2) (FYSB)
National Domestic Violence Hotline
3.00
h 3.21 3.21
(Sec. 411) (ACF)g

Grants for Battered Women’s
127.78
i 127.78 130.05
Shelters (Sec. 406) (ACF)g

Transitional Housing for Victims of
0.00
j 0.00 0.00
Domestic Violence (Sec. 414) (ACF)
Rape Prevention and Education
42.52 80.00 42.62 42.62
Grants (Sec. 302) (CDC)
Community Initiative Programs on
5.51
k 5.56 5.53
Domestic Violence (Sec. 413) (CDC)
Prevention of Violence Study (Sec.
0.00 2.00 0.00 0.00
402) (42 U.S.C. 280b-4) (CDC)
Training and Education of Health
0.75 3.00 0.00 0.00
Professionals on Domestic and
Sexual Violence (Sec. 503) (42 U.S.C.
294h) (HRSA)
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Program and Administrative
FY2009
FY2010
FY2010
FY2010
Agency
Enacted
Authorization
Budget Request
Enacted
Grants to Foster Public Health
0.75 5.00 0.00 0.00
Responses to Domestic, Dating, and
Sexual Violence, and Stalking (Sec.
504) (42 U.S.C. 280g-4) (CDC)
Research on Effective Interventions
0.00 5.00 0.00 0.00
in the Healthcare Setting (Sec. 505)
(42 U.S.C. 13973) (CDC)
Col aborative Grants to Increase the
0.00 10.00 0.00 0.00
Long-Term Stability of Victims (Sec.
601) (42 U.S.C. 14043e-3) (ACF)
Native Americans Injury Study (Sec.
0.00 0.50 0.00 0.00
904(b)) (IHS)
Subtotal: Department of Health and
$180.31 $110.50 179.18 $181.41
Human Services
Grand Total
$595.31
$793.50
$594.17
$625.91
Sources: For FY2010 budget request, see Budget of the United States Government: Appendix under named agencies. On December 16, 2009, the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2010 was enacted (P.L. 111-117; H.R. 3288). The Omnibus Appropriations Act for FY2009 (P.L. 111-8), which includes appropriations for the
Departments of Commerce, Justice and Education and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, became law on March 11, 2009. The American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act (P.L. 111-5) became law on February 17, 2009. The Violence Against Women Act, 2005 (P.L. 109-162), became law on January 5, 2006.
Abbreviations: In DOJ: USA: United States Attorneys; OJP: Office of Justice Programs; OVW: Office on Violence Against Women; STEP: Supporting Teens Through
Education and Protection Act. In HHS: ACF: Administration for Children and Families; CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; FYSB: Family and Youth Services
Bureau; HRSA: Health, Resources and Services Administration; IHS: Indian Health Service.
Notes:
(1) For FY2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provides $225 million in funding for the Office on Violence Against Women, of which $175 million is for
STOP grants and $50 million is for the transitional housing assistance for victims of domestic violence program.
(2) Section numbers refer to the Violence Against Women Act, P.L. 109-162, unless otherwise indicated. Totals may not add due to rounding.
a. The Omnibus Appropriations Act for FY2009 provided $190 million for STOP grants, which included set-asides of $1.88 million for the National Institute of Justice
(NIJ), $18 million for the transitional housing assistance program, and $0.40 million for the Native Alaskan Liaison Office. For FY2010, the President’s budget request
was $190 million for STOP grants, which included set-asides of $3 million for NIJ, $18 million for transitional housing assistance, and $10 million for the Safe Start
program.
b. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010 provides $210 million for STOP grants, which includes set-asides of $18 million for transitional housing assistance grants
and $3 million for the National Institute of Justice for Research and Evaluation of Violence Against Women.
c. DOJ has yet to determine the administering office for this program.
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d. VAWA 2005 authorized “such sums as may be necessary” for the Public Awareness Campaign.
e. VAWA 2005 authorizes total funding of $1 million for Section 905, Tracking of Violence Against Indian Women, which includes two programs—access to federal
criminal information databases and the national tribal sex offender registry.
f.
VAWA 2005 did not reauthorize this program.
g. This section number is from the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act (P.L. 108-36), which amends the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act.
h. Authorization for the National Domestic Violence Hotline expired in FY2008. Under provisions of the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act, the National Domestic
Violence Hotline was reauthorized at $3.5 million for each of FY2004 through FY2008. The National Domestic Violence Hotline was originally authorized under the
Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA). Introduced on November 19, 2009, H.R. 4116, the FVPSA [Family Violence Prevention and Services Act]
Reauthorization Act of 2009 would reauthorize this program for each of FY2010 through FY2014.
i.
Authorization for the Grants for Battered Women’s Shelters program expired in FY2008. Under provisions of the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003, the
Grants for Battered Women’s Shelters program was reauthorized at $175 million for each of FY2004 through FY2008. The FVPSA Reauthorization Act of 2009 would
reauthorize this program for each of FY2010 through FY2014.
j.
Authorization for Transitional Housing for Victims of Domestic Violence, administered by HHS, expired after FY2008. This HHS program never received
appropriations.
k. Authorization for Community Initiative Programs on Domestic Violence expired after FY2008. The Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003 reauthorized the
Community Initiative Program at $6 million for each of FY2004 through FY2008. The FVPSA Reauthorization Act of 2009 would reauthorize this program for each of
FY2010 through FY2014.

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Violence Against Women Act: History and Federal Funding

Table 2. FY2011 Authorizations and Budget Request for
Violence Against Women Programs
(in millions)
Program and Administrative
Agency
FY2011 Authorization
FY2011 Budget Request
STOP Grants Improvements (Sec.
$225.00 $187.50
101) (42 U.S.C. 3793(A)(18)
OVW
Transitional Housing Assistance
40.00 25.00
Grants for Victims of Domestic
Violence, Stalking, or Sexual
Assault (Sec. 602) (42 U.S.C.
13975) (OVW)
Grants To Encourage Arrest
75.00 47.50
Policies (Sec. 102) (42 U.S.C.
3793(a)(19) (OVW)
Legal Assistance for Victims
65.00 50.00
Improvements (Sec. 103) (42
U.S.C. 3796gg-6)(OVW)
Court Training and Improvements
5.00 4.00
to Respond to Victims of Violence
(Sec. 105) (42 U.S.C. 14043)
(OVW)
Privacy Protections for Victims of
5.00 —m
Domestic, Dating, and Sexual
Violence, and Stalking (Sec. 107)
(42 U.S.C. 14043b) (OVW)
Sex Offender Management
5.00 3.50
(Probation and Parole Officers
Training) (Sec. 1167) (42 U.S.C.
13941) (OJP)
National Stalker and Domestic
3.00 3.00
Violence Reduction Grants
(Stalking Databases) (Sec. 109) (42
U.S.C. 14032) (OVW)
Federal Victims Assistance (Sec.
1.00 —m
110) 119 Stat. 2984 (USA)
Grants for Law Enforcement
10.00 —m
Training (Sec. 111) (42 U.S.C.
140440)a
Court Appointed Special
12.00 10.00
Advocates for Victims of Child
Abuse (Sec. 112) (42 U.S.C.
13011) (OJP)
Grants for Outreach to
2.00 —m
Underserved Populations (Sec.
120) (42 U.S.C. 14045) (OVW)
Sexual Assault Services Program
50.00 30.00
(Sec. 202) (42 U.S.C. 14043g)
(OVW)
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Program and Administrative
Agency
FY2011 Authorization
FY2011 Budget Request
Rural Domestic Violence and
55.00 41.00
Child Abuse Enforcement (Sec.
203) (42 U.S.C. 13971) (OVW)
Grants to Decrease Violence
10.00 6.75
Against Women with Disabilities
(Sec. 204) (42 U.S.C. 3796gg-7)
(OVW)
Training and Services to End
10.00 4.25
Violence Against and Abuse of
Women Later in Life (Sec. 205)
(42 U.S.C. 14041a) (OVW)
Services to Advocate for and
15.00 3.50
Respond to Youth Victims of
Violence (Sec. 303) (42 U.S.C.
14043c) (OVW)
Access to Justice for Youth (Sec.
5.00 —m
303) (42 U.S.C. 14043c-1) (OVW)
Combating Domestic, Dating, and
5.00 —m
Sexual Violence, and Stalking in
Middle and High Schools [STEP]
(Sec. 304) (42 U.S.C. 14043c-3)
(OVW)
Grants to Combat Violent Crimes
15.00 9.50
on Campus (Sec. 304) (42 U.S.C.
14045b) (OVW)
Safe Havens for Children Pilot
20.00 14.00
Program (Sec. 306) (42 U.S.C.
10420) (OVW)
Grants to Assist Children and
20.00 3.00
Youth Exposed to Violence (Sec.
401) (42 U.S.C. 14043d-2)
(OVW)
Development of Curricula and
7.00 —m
Pilot Programs for Home
Visitation Projects (Sec. 401) (42
U.S.C. 14043d-3) (OVW)
Engaging Men and Youth in
10.00 3.00
Preventing Domestic, Dating, and
Sexual Violence, and Stalking (Sec.
401) (42 U.S.C. 14043d-4)
(OVW)
Public Awareness Campaign
—b
—m
Grants to Combat Violence
10.00 —m
Against Women in Public and
Assisted Housing (Sec. 601) (42
U.S.C. 14043e-4) (OVW)
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Violence Against Women Act: History and Federal Funding

Program and Administrative
Agency
FY2011 Authorization
FY2011 Budget Request
Grants for National Resource
1.00 1.00
Center on Workplace Responses
to Assist Victims of Domestic and
Sexual Violence (Sec. 701) (42
U.S.C. 14043f) (OVW)
Analysis and Research on Violence
—c 3.00
Against Indian Women Baseline
Study (Sec. 904(a)) (42 U.S.C.
3796gg-10 note) (NIJ)
Tracking of Violence Against
1.00 1.00
Indian Women—Access to
Federal Criminal Information
Databases (Sec. 905a) (OVW) /
National Tribal Sex Offender
Registry (Sec. 905b) (OJP) (28
U.S.C. 534(a))
Research and Evaluation of
—d 3.00d
Violence Against Women (NIJ)
Training for Judicial Personnel and
—e 2.50
Practitioners for Victims of Child
Abuse (42 U.S.C. 13024) (OJP)
Grants for Televised Testimony
—f 0.00f
by Victims of Child Abuse (42
U.S.C. 3793(a) (OJP)
Indian Country—Sexual Assault
g
0.50
Clearinghouse
Indian Country—Regional
h
0.50
Summits
Subtotal: Department of Justice
$677.00 $457.00
Grants for Training and
5.00 —i
Col aboration on Intersection of
Domestic Violence and Child
Maltreatment (Sec. 303) (42
U.S.C. 14043c-2) (FYSB)
National Domestic Violence
—j 5.00
Hotline (Sec. 411) (ACF)
Grants for Battered Women’s
—k 140.00
Shelters (Sec. 406) (ACF)
Rape Prevention and Education
80.00 41.93
Grants (Sec. 302) (CDC)
Community Initiative Programs on
—l 5.43
Domestic Violence (Sec. 413)
(CDC)
Prevention of Violence Study (Sec.
2.00 —m
402) (42 U.S.C. 280b-4) (CDC)
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Violence Against Women Act: History and Federal Funding

Program and Administrative
Agency
FY2011 Authorization
FY2011 Budget Request
Training and Education of Health
3.00 —m
Professionals on Domestic and
Sexual Violence (Sec. 503) ( 42
U.S.C. 294h) (HRSA)
Grants to Foster Public Health
5.00 —m
Responses to Domestic, Dating,
and Sexual Violence, and Stalking
(Sec. 504) (42 U.S.C. 280g-4)
(CDC)
Research on Effective
5.00 —m
Interventions in the Healthcare
Setting (Sec. 505) (42 U.S.C.
13973) (CDC)
Col aborative Grants to Increase
10.00 —m
the Long-Term Stability of Victims
(Sec. 601) (42 U.S.C. 14043e-3)
(ACF)
Native Americans Injury Study
—n
—m
(Sec. 904) (IHS)
Subtotal: Department of Health and
$110.00 $192.36
Human Services
Totals
$787.00
$649.36
Sources: FY2011 Budget Request Documents and the Violence Against Women Act, 2005 (P.L. 109-162).
Notes: Section numbers refer to the Violence Against Women Act, P.L. 109-162, unless otherwise indicated.
Totals may not add due to rounding.
a. DOJ has yet to determine the administering office for this program.
b. VAWA 2005 authorized such sums as necessary only through FY2010.
c. VAWA 2005 authorized this program at $1 million for each of FY2007 through FY2008.
d. There is no authorization in VAWA 2005 for this research; however, it was funded in FY2010 as a set-aside
of $3 million from the STOP grant program. For FY2011, the President requests $3 million for this research
as a separate line-item.
e. The authorization for training for Judicial Personnel expired at the end of FY2005. Congress, however, has
continued to fund it. (The Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 had authorized this
program for each of FY2001 through FY2005.)
f.
VAWA 2005 did not reauthorize Grants for Televised Testimony by Victims of Child Abuse. Congress,
however, has continued to fund it. Grants for Televised Testimony is administered by DOJ’s Office of
Justice Programs. President Obama did not request FY2011 funding for this grant program.
g. The Obama Administration’s FY2011 budget request creates this clearinghouse effort.
h. The Obama Administration’s FY2011 budget request creates the regional summits effort.
i.
No separate line-item funding indicated.
j.
Authorization for the National Domestic Violence Hotline expired in FY2008, but Congress has continued
to fund it. Under provisions of the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act, the National Domestic Violence
Hotline was reauthorized at $3.5 million for each of FY2004 through FY2008. The National Domestic
Violence Hotline was originally authorized under the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA).
Introduced on November 19, 2009, H.R. 4116, the FVPSA Reauthorization Act of 2009, would reauthorize
this program for each of FY2010 through FY2014.
Congressional Research Service
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Violence Against Women Act: History and Federal Funding

k. Authorization for the Grants for Battered Women’s Shelters expired in FY2008, but Congress has
continued to fund it. Under provisions of the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act, the Grants for
Battered Women’s Shelters was authorized at $175 million for each of FY2004 through FY2008. The
Grants for Battered Women’s Shelters was originally authorized under FVPSA. The FVPSA Reauthorization
Act of 2009 (H.R. 4116) would reauthorize this program for each of FY2010 through FY2014.
l.
Authorization for the Community Initiatives program expired in FY2008, but Congress has continued to
fund it. Under provisions of the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act, the Community Initiatives Program
on Domestic Violence was authorized at $6 million for each of FY2004 through FY2008. The FVPSA
Reauthorization Act of 2009 (H.R. 4116) would reauthorize the program for each of FY2010 through
FY2014.
m. No line item was indicated in the FY2011 budget.
n. VAWA 2005 authorized $500,000 to be appropriated for each of FY2007 and FY2008.

Author Contact Information

Garrine P. Laney

Analyst in Social Policy
glaney@crs.loc.gov, 7-2518

Congressional Research Service
20