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Supporting Survivors from Faith-based Communities Act

USA119th CongressHR-8813| House 
| Updated: 5/14/2026
Lois Frankel

Lois Frankel

Democratic Representative

Florida

Cosponsors (7)
Frederica S. Wilson (Democratic)Young Kim (Republican)Maria Elvira Salazar (Republican)Raja Krishnamoorthi (Democratic)Lateefah Simon (Democratic)Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican)Emily Randall (Democratic)

Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill authorizes the Attorney General, through the Office on Violence Against Women, to award grants for establishing and operating a national faith-based resource center. This center will address domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking by providing education, training, and technical assistance to faith communities, faith institutions, victim service providers, and various government agencies. The overarching goal is to improve the response to victims who identify with a faith or spiritual tradition and to enhance the capacity of faith communities to prevent and respond to these forms of violence. The grants will be awarded to a consortium of eligible entities , which must include at least two faith-based organizations and one culturally specific organization, with a demonstrated history of victim-centered training. A key requirement for grantees is an attestation that the safety and autonomy of victims are the primary priority, explicitly prohibiting considerations like family cohesion or opposition to divorce from overriding victim needs. The center's activities will include training on recognizing violence, using faith values for prevention, educating on religious divorce denial, and implementing best practices for supporting victims with faith, including culturally and religiously appropriate accommodations. The bill authorizes $2,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2031, with a clear rule that funds cannot be used for proselytizing or promoting any specific religion.
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Timeline
May 14, 2026
Introduced in House
May 14, 2026
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
  • May 14, 2026
    Introduced in House


  • May 14, 2026
    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Supporting Survivors from Faith-based Communities Act

USA119th CongressHR-8813| House 
| Updated: 5/14/2026
This bill authorizes the Attorney General, through the Office on Violence Against Women, to award grants for establishing and operating a national faith-based resource center. This center will address domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking by providing education, training, and technical assistance to faith communities, faith institutions, victim service providers, and various government agencies. The overarching goal is to improve the response to victims who identify with a faith or spiritual tradition and to enhance the capacity of faith communities to prevent and respond to these forms of violence. The grants will be awarded to a consortium of eligible entities , which must include at least two faith-based organizations and one culturally specific organization, with a demonstrated history of victim-centered training. A key requirement for grantees is an attestation that the safety and autonomy of victims are the primary priority, explicitly prohibiting considerations like family cohesion or opposition to divorce from overriding victim needs. The center's activities will include training on recognizing violence, using faith values for prevention, educating on religious divorce denial, and implementing best practices for supporting victims with faith, including culturally and religiously appropriate accommodations. The bill authorizes $2,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2031, with a clear rule that funds cannot be used for proselytizing or promoting any specific religion.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
May 14, 2026
Introduced in House
May 14, 2026
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
  • May 14, 2026
    Introduced in House


  • May 14, 2026
    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Lois Frankel

Lois Frankel

Democratic Representative

Florida

Cosponsors (7)
Frederica S. Wilson (Democratic)Young Kim (Republican)Maria Elvira Salazar (Republican)Raja Krishnamoorthi (Democratic)Lateefah Simon (Democratic)Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican)Emily Randall (Democratic)

Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted