Crapo: Teen Dating Funding Makes A Difference

Washington, DC â?? Teenagers across Idaho will be more informed about how to recognize and stop domestic violence thanks to a new federal grant, according to Idaho Senator Mike Crapo. Crapo, a recent speaker at a statewide domestic violence summit in Pocatello, today lauded the effort behind the Idaho Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Project. The Project, coordinated by the Idaho Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence, has just received an $843,888 federal grant to develop the program. Crapo noted funding for the effort comes through the federal Violence Against Women Act of 2000 (VAWA). The U.S. Department of Justice administers the funding which Crapo has fought to keep in place.â??Some in Congress tried to shift these Violence Against Women Act dollars to the general fund, but we were successful in stopping that move and keeping the funding directed toward anti-violence efforts,â?? Crapo said. â??Now these VAWA dollars will bring results on the ground in Idaho and other states. Some of our youngest potential victims in the cycle of violence will receive education and anti-violence messages which can empower them to stop domestic violence and abuse. The federal government is, and should be, a strong partner in these efforts to stop violence.â??Crapo, a long-time advocate for victims of family violence who has been recognized for his efforts, led a coalition in Congress to maintain full VAWA funding and to stop a proposed rescission of similar Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) dollars the last two years. That move would have eliminated the $1.2 billion reserve currently in the fund, moving it to the General Fund. The Crime Victims Fund, administered by U.S. Department of Justice, supports over 40 crime victimsâ?? programs in Idaho. In 2005, the Fund distributed over $2 million to Idaho crime victims in the form of either direct compensation or through victimsâ?? assistance programs. # # #