The League of Women Voters of Orange County (LWVOC) with more than 800 members is one of the largest League organizations in the country. The League and local citizens support restoration of federal Victims of Crime Act funding for victims of domestic violence.

We ask the VOCA Funding Department under the Florida Attorney General office to recalculate the Ninth Circuit State Attorney Office benchmarks for federal Victims of Crime Act funding to be in line with statistical data representing the victims in this jurisdiction.

In a break from the past 40 years, VOCA funding for the Ninth Circuit does not reflect historical data.  Last year there were over 11,000 cases of domestic violence in Orange and Osceola counties, but the VOCA funding for them was set at 689, far fewer than the 3750 requested on the application.

Protection from violence should never be political.  Funding for victim advocacy is essential to public safety, ensuring survivors can access protection, navigate the justice system, and begin to heal. When these resources are disrupted, fewer victims receive help at the exact moment they need it most. This is not a partisan issue—it is a community responsibility.

We, the undersigned, respectfully urge the Florida Attorney General to restore funding for victims of domestic violence in our community.