Heritage Foundation on Families & Children

Eliminate VAWA grants to save $428 million

Rationale: "We're against violence against women. We are also against failed federal programs. End VAWA."

VAWA grants should be terminated, because these services should be funded locally. Using federal agencies to fund the routine operations of domestic violence programs that state and local governments could provide is a misuse of federal resources and a distraction from concerns that are truly the province of the federal government.

The principal reasons for the existence of the VAWA programs are to mitigate, reduce, or prevent the effects and occurrence of domestic violence. Despite being created in 1994, grant programs under the VAWA haven't undergone nationally representative, scientifically rigorous experimental evaluations of effectiveness. The Heritage Foundation & the GAO have noted that there is virtually no evidence that the VAWA programs are effective.

Make room in public for practice of religious faith

Despite the societal benefits of religion, the expression of faith in the public square has faced many challenges. The law ought to make as much room as possible for the practice of religious faith. In addition, to win hearts and minds, advance freedom, and promote stability, U.S. foreign policy and public diplomacy should systematically engage the role of religion and religious audiences.