Heinrich Announces Over $1 Million to Prevent Violence Against Women

Press Release

Recovery Act Funding Will Protect Women and Create Criminal Justice Jobs

U.S. Representative Martin Heinrich (NM-01) announced the New Mexico Crime Victims Reparation Commission will receive $1,228,450 in grant funding from the Office of Violence Against Women (OVW). The money is part of the OVW Recovery Act STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

"This money makes women safer in New Mexico, while creating important criminal justice jobs," said Rep. Heinrich. "Everyone should have the right to live free of violence, fear, dominance, and inequality. We must partner with the criminal justice system as a community to enhance victim safety and hold offenders accountable for their crimes against women."

The Recovery Act STOP program supports communities in their efforts to hire and retain criminal justice and victim services personnel that respond to violent crimes against women. The program is designed to develop and strengthen effective law enforcement, prosecution strategies, and victim services in cases involving violent crimes against women. The funding will support strategies that create and preserve jobs and promote economic growth while improving responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

Rep. Heinrich voted in favor of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act which President Obama signed it into law on February 17, 2009. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is an unprecedented effort to jumpstart our economy, save and create millions of jobs, and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st century. The Recovery Act could create or save 22,000 jobs in New Mexico, including 7,700 in the First Congressional District.

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