HR 4970 VAWA Reauthorization

This email is tailored after one from the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) and the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence. However, I re wrote it to support rather than oppose H.R. 4970. First there’s a brief explanation, then a list of legislative names and phone numbers, then a sample letter that you can modify and use to email, fax, or mail to your legislators. If we are unable to move forward H.R. 4970 it’s very likely that VAWA will be reauthorized for FIVE YEARS to include even more destructive provisions! We need to ACT NOW.

PLEASE KEEP CALLING!

May 15, 2012

Your help is MOST needed if you live in AL, CA, CO, FL, IL, KS, MD, MI, MO, MN, NV, NH, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, SD, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI, WV, WY!

Act Now: Urge Your Representative to VOTE YES on H.R. 4970, the Adams VAWA Bill!

On Wednesday, May 16th, the House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on final passage of H.R. 4970, a bill to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), introduced by Rep. Sandy Adams (R-Fl, 24th).

H.R. 4970 is an pro common sense bill strongly opposed by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) and the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence.

We must tell our legislators that we SUPPORT H.R. 4970 and want to see a bipartisan bill that helps ALL victims. Time is of the essence, we must take action BY May 16th!

ACTION: Call/Write/Tweet your Representative and tell them:"We strongly SUPPORT H.R. 4970 and urge you to VOTE YES.

House Target List

STATE
Representative
Phone
Fax

Alabama
Martha Roby, 2nd District
202-225-2901
202-225-8913

California
Daniel Lungren, 3rd District
202-225-5716
202-226-1298

Jeff Denham, 19th District
202-225-4540
202-225-3402

Kevin McCarthy, 22nd District
202-225-2915
202-225-2908

Gary Miller, 42nd District
202-225-3201
202-226-6962

Mark Bono Mack, 45th District
202-225-5330
202-225-2961

John Campbell, 48th District
202-225-5611
202-225-9177

Darrell Issa, 49th District
202-225-3906
202-225-3303

Brian Billbray, 50th District
202-225-0508
202-225-2558

Colorado
Scott Tipton, 3rd District
202-225-4761
202-226-9669

Mike Coffman, 6th District
202-225-7882
202-226-4623

Florida
Steve Southerland, II, 2nd District
202-225-5235
202-225-5615

Daniel Webster, 8th District
202-225-2176
202-225-0999

Vern Buchanan, 13th District
202-225-5015
202-226-5015

Ilena Ros-Lehtinen, 18th District
202-225-3931
202-225-5620

Mario Diaz-Balart, 21st District
202-225-4211
202-225-8576

Allen West, 22nd District
202-225-3026
202-225-8398

Sandy Adams, 24th District

(Bill Author)
202-225-2706
202-226-6299

David Rivera, 25th District
202-225-2778
202-226-0346

Georgia
Tom Price, 6th District
202-225-4501
202-225-4656

Illinois
Robert Dold, 10th District
202-225-4835
2020225-0837

Judy Biggert, 13th District
202-225-3515
202-225-9420

Timothy Johnson, 15th District
202-225-2371
202-226-0791

Bobby Schilling, 17th District
202-225-5905
202-225-5396

Aaron Schock, 18th District
202-225-6201
202-225-9249

Kansas
Lynn Jenkins, 2nd District
202-225-6601
202-225-7986

Maryland
Roscoe Bartlett, 6th District
202-225-2721
202-225-2193

Michigan
Dan Benishek, 1st District
202-225-4735
202-225-4710

Candice Miller, 10th District
202-225-2106
202-226-1169

Minnesota
Michele Bachmann, 6th District
202-225-2331
202-225-6475

Chip Cravaack, 8th District
202-225-6211
202-225-0699

Missouri
Vicky Hartzler, 4th District
202-225-2876
202-225-0148

Jo Ann Emerson, 8th District
202-225-4404
202-226-0326

Nevada
Mark Amodei, 2nd District
202-225-6155
202-225-5679

Joe Heck, 3rd District
202-225-3252
202-225-2185

New Hampshire
Charles Bass, 2nd District
202-225-5206
202-225-2946

New Jersey
Frank Lobiondo, 2nd District
202-225-6572
202-225-3318

John Runyan, 3rd District
202-225-4765
202-225-0778

New York
Robert Turner, 9th District
202-225-6616
202-226-0218

Michael Grimm, 13th District
202-225-3371
202-226-1272

Nan Hayworth, 19th District
202-225-5441
202-225-3289

Chris Gibson, 20th District
202-225-5614
202-225-1168

Ann Marie Burkle, 25th District
202-225-3701
202-225-4042

North Carolina
Renee Ellmers, 2nd District
202-225-4531
202-225-5662

Virginia Foxx, 5th District
202-225-2071
202-225-2995

Sue Myrick, 9th District
202-225-1976
202-225-3389

Ohio
Jean Schmidt, 2nd District
202-225-3164
202-225-1992

John Boehner, 8th District (Speaker)
202-225-0600
202-225-0704

Steven LaTourette, 14th District
202-225-5731
202-225-3307

Steve Stivers, 15th District
202-225-2015
202-225-3529

James Renacci, 16th District
202-225-3876
202-225-3059

Pennsylvania
Jim Gerlack, 6th District
202-225-4315
202-225-8440

Patrick Meehan, 7th District
202-225-2011
202-226-0820

Michael Fitzpatrick, 8th District
202-225-4276
202-225-9511

Charlie Dent, 15th District
202-225-6411
202-226-0778

Tim Murphy, 18th District
202-225-2301
202-225-1844

Todd Platts, 19th District
202-225-5836
202-226-1000

South Dakota
Kristi Noem
202-225-2801
202-225-5823

Tennessee
Diane Black, 6th District
202-225-4231
202-225-6887

Marsha Blackburn, 7th District
202-225-2811
202-225-3004

Texas
Ted Poe, 2nd District
202-225-6565
202-225-5547

Jeb Hensarling, 5th District
202-225-3484
202-226-1035

Kay Granger, 12th District
202-225-5071
202-225-5683

Lamar Smith, 21st District (Judiciary Chairman)
202-225-4236
202-225-8628

Francisco Canseco, 23rd District
202-225-4511
202-225-2237

Virginia
Eric Cantor, 7th District
202-225-2815
202-225-0011

Washington
Jaime Herrera Beutler, 3rd District
202-225-3536
202-225-3478

Cathy McMorris Rodgers, 5th District
202-225-2006
202-225-3392

Dave Reichert, 8th District
202-225-27761
202-225-4282

West Virginia
Shelley Moore Capito, 2nd District
202-225-2711
202-225-7856

Wisconsin
Reid Ribble, 8th District
202-225-5665
202-225-5729

Wyoming
Cynthia Lummis (At-Large)
202-225-2311
202-225-3057

Sample Letter

[ORGANIZATIONAL LETTERHEAD]

[May X, 2012]

Regarding: SUPPORT for H.R. 4970, Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)

Dear Representative [Last Name]:

The [organization name] and associated organizations represent thousands of voters and advocates for fair, equitable, and cost effective treatment of domestic violence victims, joins the National Coalition For Men (or whomever you prefer) in expressing strong support for H.R. 4970, the Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), introduced by Rep. Sandy Adams (R-FL).

In light of its favorable passage by the Judiciary Committee last week, H.R. 4970 continues to strengthen VAWA and provide vital improvements, including provisions designed to increase the safety of all the abused regardless of ethnicity, sex, and sexual preference. Native

In addition, H.R. 4970 includes restorative provisions that correct years of inadequate provisions to protect the safety of alleged immigrant victims as well as alleged citizen abusers, many of whom have been falsely accused.

Consequently, H.R. 4970 offers protections for immigrant victims seeking to report crimes and those accused of those crimes. H.R. 4970 in no way increases the danger for alleged immigrant victims since they have left the alleged violent environment prior to filing for protection. H.R. 4970 not only supports existing anti-fraud provisions but calls for heightened enforcement.

The House has the opportunity to pass a victim-centered VAWA reauthorization bill endorsed by women and men advocacy groups that allocates resources to help hold perpetrators accountable and provide constitutional protections to the accused and expands services and protections to all regardless of race, nationality, religion, immigrant status or sexual orientation. H.R. 4970 also provides provisions to better ensure VAWA funds are spent for their intended purposes thereby ensuring those in need of services are better served.

Those opposing H.R. 4970 have recently and loudly asserted that VAWA serves all people, which is absurd on its face, which is, the Violence Against Women Act. The speicious version offered by the opposition, H.R. 4971, by omission and lack of specificity, generally excludes men, particularly heterosexual men. This fact is bolstered by continuing baseless, insulting, and absurd cries that supporters of H.R. 4970 are fueling the nonexistent "war on women.

We strongly support H.R. 4970 and urge you to vote yes and urge all members of the House to support final passage when it's considered on Wednesday, May 16th. We cannot adequately address violence related issues by excluding half the population, allowing precious resources to be squandered for ideological purposes, empowering false accusers at the expense of true victims, and letting malfeasance and maladministration run unchecked without holding applicable program administrators accountable.

Thank you for your consideration and please do not hesitate to contact me

Sincerely,

[Name]

[Title]

cc: National Coalition For Men

Harry Crouch

National Coalition For Men

California Men's Centers