Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan served as the floor manager for S. 3817, reauthorizing the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act and the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act.
The bill includes provisions developed by Sablan making the Northern Marianas Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence eligible for about $240,000 in federal funding. Currently, the Northern Marianas Coalition receives no support from the Family Violence program.
“The problem of domestic violence in our community is something that most of us have seen,” said Sablan. “But the resources to help the victims of family violence or to help families deal with the problems that lead to violent behavior are lacking.
“Guma Esperansa on Saipan is stretched beyond capacity. And Tinian and Rota don’t even have shelters for people who need protection from the situation in their homes.
“So, I am very glad that after more than a year of hard work we have passed the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act to provide funding that the Northern Marianas Coalition needs to address domestic violence.”
S. 3817 now goes to the Senate for an expected quick approval before being sent to President Obama for signature into law.
Sablan was an original co-sponsor of the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act, H.R. 4416, in the House of Representatives, when it was introduced in November 2009. Sablan had language included that gives domestic violence coalitions in the NMI, American Samoa, Guam, and the Virgin Islands a full “state” share of funding.
Presently, the four territories have to share one state allocation, which in 2009 was $240,000.
“The Northern Marianas Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence brought this issue to my attention last year,” Sablan said. “And the timing was right to get the law amended so that the Coalition could get a full state share of funding.
