FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE VAW THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 1995 (202) 514-2008 TDD (202) 514-1888 FEDERAL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN DIRECTOR VISITS WITH NEWS OF FEDERAL GRANTS FOR VERMONT Grants Will Boost Vermont's Efforts Even As Congress Ponders Cuts BURLINGTON & MONTPELIER, VERMONT -- Bonnie Campbell, Director of the Justice Department's Office of Violence Against Women, visited Vermont today to announce $426,000 in federal grants for Vermont, raise awareness of violence against women and warn of efforts in Congress to cut the crime bill's violence against women funds. Campbell received paperwork from Governor Dean today that leaves the state "just a step away" from qualifying for a $426,000 STOP grant (Services, Training, Officers, and Prosecution) to hire law enforcement, prosecutors and victims services that address violence against women. The grants could be used to pay for crisis centers, counselors and victim's advocates, police and prosecutors to specialize in domestic violence or sexual assault, domestic violence hot-lines, or lighting for streets, parks and paths. "Because of President Clinton's leadership, the federal government will help Vermont fight back against domestic violence and sexual abuse," said Campbell. "Now Congress is talking about cutting $5 billion from last year's crime bill commitment -- a cut of one-sixth." "The crime control trust fund is our bank for funding the Violence Against Women Act, and we can't stand by and let anyone rob that bank." The grant amount represents twice the amount Vermont now spends to fight domestic violence, though the grant also provides assistance to fight sexual assaults. In Burlington, Campbell and State Attorney general Jeff Amestoy visited the Chittenden Unit for Special Investigations -- which specializes in fighting sexual assaults -- as well as the local Rape Crisis Center. In Montpelier, she met with Governor Dean and a subcommittee of the Vermont federal crime bill coordinating committee. Today's visit is part of Campbell's first trip outside Washington since being named by Attorney General Janet Reno to direct the Violence Against Women office. Earlier this week, she visited Rhode Island and Maine. ### 95-226