Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard meets with representatives of the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence (CPEDV). The representatives visited our nation's capital and met with Members of Congress as part of the National Network to End Domestic Violence’s Annual Lobby Day which drew over 150 advocates from all over the country. The California domestic violence delegation to Washington urged Congress for full funding of the Violence Against Women’s Act which provides critical funding for domestic violence programs all over California. The representatives also thanked the congresswoman for her steadfast work on behalf of survivors of domestic violence. Congresswoman Roybal-Allard is the author of the SAFE Act in Congress, which would help victims of domestic violence retain the financial independence necessary for them to leave their abusers. Under SAFE, victims of domestic violence who are forced to leave a job because of the abuse would be eligible for unemployment benefits. They would also be able to take unpaid leave from work without the fear of being fired to address immediate needs such as obtaining legal assistance, medical care or to find a safe place to live. One of the provisions of the original SAFE Act - the creation of a national workplace resource center - has already been signed into law as part of the Violence Against Women Act reauthorization in 2005. The resource center will help businesses develop and implement policies, guidelines, and plans to make their workplaces safer and more productive while supporting victims of domestic and sexual violence. The California Partnership to End Domestic Violence - the state domestic violence coalition made up of over 170 member agencies and individuals - provides a united voice on legislation and budgetary initiatives affecting victims and their children, and works at the local, state and national levels.  

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