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NNEDV Commends the Passage of H.R. 2119, The Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act

October 26, 2021

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2119, the Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act (FVPSA Improvement) by a bipartisan vote of 228 to 200. The National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) applauds Chairman Bobby Scott (D-VA) and the bill’s lead sponsors, Representatives Lucy McBath (D-GA), Don Young (R-AK), Gwen Moore (D-WI), and John Katko (R-NY) for their leadership, as well as every Member who voted for H.R. 2119, a bill that supports critical services for millions of domestic violence survivors and their children.

The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) is at the heart of our nation’s response to domestic violence by funding emergency shelters, crisis hotlines, counseling, and legal assistance throughout states, territories, and tribal communities. FVPSA helps support more than 1,500 community-based programs respond to the urgent needs of more than 1.3 million domestic violence survivors and their children each year. H.R. 2119 reauthorizes and expands access to these lifesaving services and programs to ensure more survivors of domestic violence, family violence, and dating violence have access to support and safety.

The FVPSA Improvement bill bolsters existing programs and closes gaps in the current law. It is one of NNEDV’s legislative priorities in the 117th Congress. The bill increases funding authorization levels, expands support for and access to culturally specific programs, strengthens the capacity of tribes and tribal programs, and meaningfully invests in prevention.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected domestic violence survivors and increased their needs. H.R. 2119 will help meet survivors’ needs in the current crisis and beyond. NNEDV praises the House for passing H.R. 2119 and urges the Senate to swiftly pass the bipartisan companion bill, S. 1275, to ensure survivors have the support they need in these challenging times and beyond.