D.C. Treated as a State Under Violence Against Women Act Headed for President’s Signature

Washington, DC – The Office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today announced that, for the first time, D.C. will be treated as a state for Sexual Assault Services Program (SASP) funding under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), passed by the House today. Under the program, the District will get the same amount of funding as states, at 1.5% of the total appropriated by Congress, rather than the 0.25% allotted to four of the territories. Norton has continuously worked for maximum funding to combat the epidemic of domestic violence in the District of Columbia, where over 31,000 domestic violence-related calls were made to the Metropolitan Police Department in 2012.

"A new VAWA and particularly new and equal D.C. funding are important wins for the District," Norton said. "Domestic violence calls, including for sexual assaults, are at astronomical levels here. Our more than 600,000 residents, who pay federal taxes, deserve and need no less program funding than the states."

While D.C. is almost always treated as a state for the purposes of federal funding, Norton has to be alert to fix the few statutes that treat D.C. differently. She said that she was particularly grateful to her friend, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT), for including the D.C. equality provision in the Senate version of the bill, which was passed by the House today, and now awaits the president's signature.

Published: February 28, 2013