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Legislative Alert: March 17 DeadlineQuick Action is Needed

 Please contact your US Representative today to request that they join in a letter of support for level funding of $15 million for the CASA program. Please ask staff, volunteers and board members to do so as well.

The Obama Administrations budget for FY 2011 proposes just $10 million for the CASA program, a reduction of 33% from the 2010 enacted level. The funding supports the grants program for state and local CASA/GAL programs as well as training and program support. This cut would result in a loss of 3,500 citizen volunteers nationwide and a disruption of services for more than 12,000 abused children.

Representatives Dennis Cardoza (D-CA) and Geoff Davis (R-KY) are circulating a letter among all House congressional offices, asking members of Congress to sign a letter directed to Appropriations Committee members urging that the committee sustain $15 million of funding for the CASA program. Call your US Representative to ask that they sign on to this letter. The deadline to sign on is March 17.

Visit congressmerge.com to find your Representatives contact informationyou can call or email. In the message, please personalize as appropriate:

Hi, Im (name), a (positionstaff, volunteer, board member) with (program name), a program in (the Representatives) district. The (program name) recruits and trains citizen volunteers who are appointed by judges to advocate for abused and neglected children.  Nationwide, there are 70,000 citizens appointed as advocates for 240,000 children in the court system because of abuse and neglect.

 I am calling (writing) to ask that Representative (name) sign on to a dear colleague letter being circulated in the House this week, requesting that the Appropriations Committee provide level funding of $15 million for the CASA program in FY 2011. The Presidents budget recommendation proposes a 33% reduction in funding for the program, which would result in a loss of 3,500 volunteers and a disruption of services for more than 12,000 abused children. Given the economic challenges faced by families, CASA (GAL) volunteers are needed now more than ever!!

Please contact Estakio Beltran (Rep. Cardoza) at Estakio.beltran@mail.house.gov or Lauren OBrien (Rep. Geoff Davis) at Lauren.Obrien@mail.house.gov to sign. The deadline to sign is March 17th. Thank you very much.

Questions? Contact M. Carmela Welte, National CASA deputy CEO.