Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) announced today that the New Jersey Coalition for Battered Women (NJCBW), which is headquartered in the Fourth Congressional District, has been chosen by the United States Department of Justice to receive $82,882 through a federal Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Coalition grant.
“The New Jersey Coalition for Battered Women is a valuable resource for women and children across our state who have been victims of domestic abuse, sexual assault and violence,” said Smith, author of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act (P.L. 106-386), which first authorized the grant program. “The NJCBW’s mission is to end violence against women and its work is critical to ensuring women and their families have the resources necessary—and readily available—to break the cycle of domestic violence.”
The funding for this grant program was established by Division B of Smith’s law, which provided the first reauthorization of the landmark Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). VAWA helped draw national attention to the epidemic of domestic violence and invested significant resources to prevent domestic abuse, assist the women and children who fall victim to it, and improve the judicial system’s response.
The New Jersey Coalition for Battered Women is a statewide association that provides leadership, support and resources toward the prevention of violence against women in New Jersey through advocacy, training, public awareness and research. The federal grant is awarded to state coalitions that provide support to member rape crisis centers and domestic violence shelters through funding, training and technical assistance, and public awareness.
State coalitions such as NJCBW have played a critical role in advancing the goals of VAWA, serving as a collective voice to end violence against women through collaboration with federal, state and local organizations.
“On the ground, rapid response coalitions like NJCBW act as the first line of defense—providing a safe place where women and their children can go to escape abuse,” Smith said. “The dedication and commitment of NJCBW and similar organizations play a key role in our fight to end these crimes and the exploitation of women and children that remains all too prevalent in our modern day society.”
Smith, who met with NJCBW in June, voted in favor of the original Violence Against Women Act, has voted seven times for comprehensive legislation to reauthorize and expand VAWA, and continues to work to secure key funding for these the programs that combat violence against women and provide needed support services.
Smith also authored legislation called Nicole’s Law to help victims of stalking and sexual assault obtain protective orders.
New Jersey’s Fourth Congressional District encompasses 44 municipalities in parts of Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean counties. In addition to the Congressman’s Washington, D.C. office, he has three New Jersey office locations. The Monmouth County Constituent Services Center is located at 112 Village Center Drive, Second Floor, in Freehold. The Monmouth County phone number is (732) 780-3035. The Ocean County District Office is located at 405 Route 539 (Pinehurst Road), Plumsted. The Ocean County Office phone number is (609) 286-2571. The Mercer County District Office is located at 4573 South Broad Street, Hamilton. The Hamilton office phone number is (609) 585-7878.
