DeLauro Highlights Effect of Budget Cuts, Government Shutdown on Domestic Violence Services

NEW HAVEN, CT—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) visited the new offices of BHcare, which operates the Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services in North Haven today to highlight the harmful effect budget cuts and the government shutdown have had on these critical services. She was joined by former state representative Karen Jarmoc, Executive Director of the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence; Roberta Cook, President and CEO of BHcare; and a domestic violence survivor. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

"We have made tremendous strides in fighting domestic violence since the 1970s," DeLauro said. "But we now are in danger of losing ground. To stop this scourge, we need to fund the programs that are proven to make a difference in fighting domestic violence and caring for its victims. With talk in Washington now focusing on whether Congress can pass a budget for the coming year we need to focus on ending the deep, indiscriminate budget cuts that I believe a majority want to replace. As we discussed this morning, these cuts have hurt programs that assist survivors of domestic violence. In devising a balanced solution to our budget challenges we must not cut valuable programs that help Americans."

"BHcare is deeply concerned about the impact of prolonged sequestration and the devastating effect it will have on the families who rely on our Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services for shelter, safety, and support," said Cook

Three women die daily in America because of violence inflicted by their husbands or boyfriends. Domestic and sexual violence are the most underreported crimes, but studies estimate one-quarter of women experience severe physical violence by an intimate partner and nearly 20 percent have been raped.

Despite these staggering numbers, the deeply harmful, indiscriminate sequester budget cuts forced the Justice Department to cut $20 million from grants for non-profits and other agencies. Services were cut back nationwide, including Rhode Island, Kentucky and Louisiana. Thankfully, the CCADV had sufficient funding to weather the recent government shutdown. If it had continued past the end of October, the CCADV may have been forced to close offices.

Standard & Poor's estimated the 16 day government shutdown cost the American economy $24 billion. To put the figure in perspective, the Department of Justice's Sexual Assault Services' annual budget could be paid for by just three and a half hours of the shutdown.