Kelly, Stanton, Gallego, Ansari Urge HHS and DOJ to Streamline Domestic Violence Victim Services Funding

“These reckless disruptions will have unnecessary and lasting negative impacts on Arizona survivors of domestic violence and reduce public safety”

Today, Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, alongside Representatives Greg Stanton (D-AZ-04) and Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ-03) sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Attorney General Pam Bondi urging them to reverse recent policy changes that have delayed or terminated federal funding for victim service programs. The lawmakers warned that these disruptions are putting survivors of domestic and sexual violence at risk and forcing Arizona providers to cut back essential victim services. 

“Cuts to victim services directly threaten the safety and well-being of Arizonans in need, undermining public safety and the integrity of our justice system. We urge you to immediately reverse new policies that are causing funding delays to providers, restore grants supporting victim services that have been terminated, and work to improve these critical programs, not reduce or eliminate their reach,” said the lawmakers. 

In the letter, they outline the scale of need and current strain on Arizona’s system: “Each year, tens of thousands of Arizonans seek protection, shelter, and support services to escape abuse and rebuild their lives. In 2023 alone, Arizona’s victim service providers assisted over 50,000 survivors of domestic violence and other crimes; today, our state’s shelters receive approximately 25 calls for every one available bed.” 

Pointing to direct impacts in Arizona, the lawmakers wrote: “In rural Graham County, Arizona, the County Attorney’s office will now face additional obstacles to access law enforcement training to investigate and prosecute hate crimes as a result of their grant termination. Across our state, crime victims’ access to resources, services, and legal assistance will be diminished as Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) support contracts have been abruptly terminated.” 

“These reckless disruptions will have unnecessary and lasting negative impacts on Arizona survivors of domestic violence and reduce public safety. To truly prioritize supporting law enforcement, helping victims, fighting crime, protecting children, combating human trafficking, and reducing recidivism, you must promptly reinstate these grants and prevent further disruption to these critical programs,” the lawmakers concluded. 

Click here to read the full letter.