• JWI's lobbying related to firearms is primarily focused on the intersection between domestic violence and firearms. We discussed implementation of BSCA and rulemaking on this topic with Congressional staff and led a letter to the Administration, urging DOJ to issue guidance to ensure BSCA's dating violence provisions are fully implemented. JWI is also working with Hill staff on a bill that has not yet been introduced to develop a process for victim notification when a domestic abuser fails a firearms background check.
• JWI advocated to prevent a $700 million cut to VOCA grants, which would translate to a 41% cut to victim assistance grants. We attempted to address the cut in the CJS bill and also the ash and trash section of the second minibus.
• JWI is supported resolutions condemning the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israeli civilians, with an emphasis on Hamas's sexual violence. JWI also supported and provided technical assistance on provisions to provide funding to victim services in Israel to support victims of sexual violence on October 7.
• JWI advocated to prevent a $700 million cut to VOCA grants, which would translate to a 41% cut to victim assistance grants. While we have been trying to address through appropriations, we have also discussed the issue with Judiciary staff. JWI also submitted comments on OVC's proposed rulemaking related to victim compensation and will be submitting comments on behalf of the Interfaith Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence as well.
• JWI has been exploring ways to combat disinformation online and has discussed the issue with Congressional offices. However, JWI has not yet identified a specific legislative agenda in this realm.

Duration: November 1, 2023 to present

General Issues: Firearms/Guns/Ammunition, Budget/Appropriations, Foreign Relations, Law Enforcement/Crime/Criminal Justice, Telecommunications, Immigration, Family Issues/Abortion/Adoption, Economics/Economic Development

Spending: about $20,000 (But it's complicated. Here's why.)

It can be tricky to figure out how much an organization spent on a particular lobbying engagement. The law only requires lobbyists to report the amount they were paid for federal lobbying each quarter rounded to the nearest $10,000—and if it's less than $3,000 in a given quarter (or less than $13,000 for organizations with in-house lobbyists), they don't have to disclose it at all. Plus, some organizations include spending that doesn’t belong in the report—for instance, money spent lobbying state governments or other legal work.

Agencies lobbied since 2023: U.S. Senate, House of Representatives, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms & Explosives, White House Office, Bureau of Justice Assistance, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Executive Office of the President (EOP), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Justice - Dept of (DOJ), Office on Violence Against Women, President of the U.S., Office for Victims of Crime, Homeland Security - Dept of (DHS)