Dear John:

More federal funds to prevent domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking. Greater supports for survivors, including children exposed to violence. Groundbreaking investments in economic justice. A deeper, more sustained commitment to advancing gender equity worldwide.

The Biden/Harris administration budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2024 contains all that and more, consistent with President Biden’s longstanding commitment to preventing domestic and sexual violence and helping survivors heal. In our view, the domestic and international investments the administration is proposing are badly needed and very wise.

Here at FUTURES, we are especially pleased that the administration’s budget proposal includes:

• $ 1 billion for the Violence Against Women Act, including new funding for restorative justice programs. This is a $300 million increase and would be the most funding ever;
• More than $519 million for the Family Violence Prevention and Services, which is double last year’s appropriation; and
• $30 million for the Children Exposed to Violence initiative at the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention – a $20 million increase.

The Biden/Harris budget also funds groundbreaking programs to boost the economic security and safety of women, which is critical to helping survivors of domestic violence live safely and independently of their abusers. These include: ​​​​​​

• Major investment in child care;
• Housing supports for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking;
• A restored Child Tax Credit, which cut child poverty in half in 2021, to the lowest level in history, when it was adopted temporarily as part of the American Rescue Plan; and
• A national paid family and medical leave program, providing up to 12 weeks of paid leave so working people can take time off to care for a new child or a seriously ill loved one; heal from their own serious illness; deal with a loved one’s military deployment; or find safety from domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.

In addition, the Biden/Harris budget would make the largest commitment ever to addressing gender-based violence and gender equity worldwide, providing nearly $3 billion to advance gender equity and equality internationally.

At FUTURES, we are working every day to build congressional support for this budget and make sure lawmakers recognize that these investments can make our country, and our world, safer and stronger.

Sign up to join our Advocacy Network here to stay apprised of developments on the FY 2024 budget and other FUTURES policy priorities. Thank you, as always, for your support!

In Solidarity,

Kiersten Stewart

Director of Public Policy and Advocacy