FY 2018 Funding Increase to Address Violence Against Indian Women
The FY18 Omnibus Spending Bill allocation of funds for a tribal VOCA program was an incredible step forward for victim services and victim access to resources in tribal communities. The funding will be instrumental in addressing the resource disparity that American Indians and Alaska Natives confront when victimized by crime.
In addition to the historic VOCA funding for Indian tribes, the Bill also included other substantial budget allocations:
- $492 million for the Violence Against Women Act (the highest funding to date for VAWA), and
- $154 million for the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act, which includes an additional $5 million increase specifically for the existing tribal-dedicated funding stream.
“The National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center is beyond pleased to see that Congress has, through passage of the Omnibus Bill, provided the funding for essential and lifesaving resources,” said Lucy Simpson, Executive Director, NIWRC. “Through the tribal appropriations under FY18 Omnibus Spending Bill, Congress has demonstrated a commitment to tribal sovereignty, the federal trust relationship, and to American Indian and Alaska Native victims of crime.”
