Davids Recognizes Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Votes to Fund Domestic Violence Shelters

Today, during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Representative Sharice Davids voted to provide additional resources for domestic violence shelters, pushing to reauthorize the primary source of federal funding for these critical services for the first time since 2010.

More than one-third of Kansas women and 31% of Kansas men experience intimate partner violence and/or stalking in their lifetimes. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has increased that risk and disrupted services that offer protection and support to survivors. According to the National Network to End Domestic Violence, in just one day in 2020, domestic violence programs were unable to meet 11,047 shelter requests from survivors of domestic violence. This is an increase of nearly 18%—or around 2,00 calls for help—in just two years.

"More than 10 million people experience domestic violence in the United States each year—including tens of thousands of Kansans. We must continue to support services for victims, especially after the pandemic introduced new challenges to those in danger," said Davids. "Today, as Domestic Violence Awareness Month comes to a close, I voted to put an end to these staggering statistics by funding domestic violence shelters and ensuring that all survivors can receive the support, protection, and justice they deserve."

The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) passed the House with bipartisan support today. It was the first federal law to provide resources for survivors of domestic violence and, almost 40 years later, is still the primary source of federal funding for domestic violence shelters in the country. FVPSA of 2021 is a comprehensive reauthorization of this critical law that will enhance and refocus federal investment to address intimate partner violence. Davids also voted to support the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization earlier this year, and presided over the House floor during its passage in 2019.

FVPSA is supported by numerous organizations, including National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, National Network to End Domestic Violence; National Clearinghouse for the Defense of Battered Women; National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs; National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma, and Mental Health; National Domestic Violence Hotline; National Indigenous Women's Resource Center; National Congress of American Indians; Asian Pacific Institute on Gender Based Violence; National LGBTQ Institute on IPV; and Esperanza United.