CONCORD – U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster (NH-02), founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Task Force to End Sexual Violence, met virtually with NH Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence leaders and members to hear about the resiliency of crisis centers navigating this unprecedented time and the future demands of serving victims of interpersonal violence.

“It was great to be with so many Granite State leaders from the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence to hear first-hand about the resiliency of crisis centers and future needs as we come out of COVID-19,” Rep. Kuster continued. “As our communities begin to open more, we need to be prepared for an even greater onslaught of reporting and need for services. That’s where Congress must step in. I will continue working in Congress to ensure survivors have the support they need to recover.”

“Throughout the last 18 months, we have witnessed the incredible resilience of advocates at New Hampshire’s crisis centers as they worked tirelessly to pivot services to meet the changing needs of survivors and respond to the shadow pandemic of domestic and sexual violence in the wake of COVID-19,” said Pamela Keilig, Public Policy Specialist at the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. “This past year has introduced a host of new challenges, while simultaneously adding to the barriers that many survivors face in accessing critical, life-saving services in their greatest hour of need. However, we must recognize that we are living in a sustained pandemic that will have long-term, ripple effects and continue to shape how we move forward as a state and nation to address violence in our communities. We are grateful to Congresswoman Kuster for her unwavering support for survivors in New Hampshire and her ongoing commitment to ensuring that advocates have essential resources to meet the needs of survivors throughout the Granite State.”

Kuster is the founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Task Force to End Sexual Violence, and a leader in Congress for ensuring survivors have the support needed to heal. The Kuster-backed American Rescue Plan includes $180 million in Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) funds for emergency shelter, housing, and other emergency supports in every state and territory and $198 million for rape crisis centers. Last month, President Joe Biden signed into law the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Fix to Sustain the Crime Victims Fund Act, legislation Rep. Kuster helped introduce to shore up the depleted resources of the Crime Victims Fund and ensure survivors of sexual violence get the support and assistance they need.