I 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 696
To establish grants to improve and study the National Domestic Violence 
Hotline. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 9, 2005
Mr. CONYERS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education 
and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To establish grants to improve and study the National 
Domestic Violence Hotline.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Domestic Violence 
Connections Campaign Act of 2005’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) More than 500 men and women call the Na-
tional Domestic Violence Hotline every day to get
immediate, informed, and confidential assistance to 
help deal with family violence. 
(2) The National Domestic Violence Hotline 
service is available, toll-free, 24 hours a day and 7 
days a week, with bilingual staff, access to trans-
lators in 150 languages, and a TTY line for the 
hearing-impaired. 
(3) With access to over 5,000 shelters and serv-
ice providers in the United States, Puerto Rico, and 
the United States Virgin Islands, the National Do-
mestic Violence Hotline provides crisis intervention 
and immediately connects callers with sources of 
help in their local community. 
(4) The National Domestic Violence Hotline, 
which was created by the Violence Against Women 
Act and is located in Austin, Texas, answered its 
first call on February 21, 1996, and answered its 
one millionth call on August 4, 2003. 
(5) Approximately 60 percent of the callers in-
dicate that calling the Hotline is their first attempt 
to address a domestic violence situation and that 
they have not called the police or any other support 
services. 
(6) Between 2000 and 2003, there was a 27 
percent increase in call volume.
(7) Due to high call volume and limited re-
sources, approximately 26,000 calls to the Hotline 
went unanswered in 2002 due to long hold times or 
busy signals. 
(8) Widespread demand for the Hotline service 
continues. The Department of Justice reported that 
over 18,000 acts of violence were committed by inti-
mate partners in the United States each day during 
2001. An average of 3 women are murdered every 
day in the Nation by their husbands or boyfriends. 
(9) Working with outdated telephone and com-
puter equipment creates many challenges for the 
National Domestic Violence Hotline. 
(10) Improving technology infrastructure at the 
National Domestic Violence Hotline and training ad-
vocates, volunteers, and other staff on upgraded 
technology will drastically increase the Hotline’s 
ability to answer more calls quickly and effectively. 
(11) Partnerships between the public sector and 
the private sector are an effective way of providing 
necessary technology improvements to the National 
Domestic Violence Hotline. 
(12) The Connections Campaign is a project 
that unites nonprofit organizations, major corpora-
tions, and Federal agencies to launch a major new
initiative to help ensure that the National Domestic 
Violence Hotline can answer every call with up-
graded, proficient, and sophisticated technology 
tools. 
SEC. 3. TECHNOLOGY GRANT TO NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIO-
LENCE HOTLINE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Attorney General, in con-
sultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Serv-
ices, shall award a grant to the National Domestic Vio-
lence Hotline. 
(b) USE OF FUNDS.—The grant awarded under sub-
section (a) shall be used to provide technology and tele-
communication training and assistance for advocates, vol-
unteers, staff, and others affiliated with the Hotline so 
that such persons are able to effectively use improved 
equipment made available through the Connections Cam-
paign. 
SEC. 4. RESEARCH GRANT TO STUDY NATIONAL DOMESTIC 
VIOLENCE HOTLINE. 
(a) GRANT AUTHORIZED.—Not later than 6 months 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney Gen-
eral, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services and the National Domestic Violence Hot-
line, shall award a grant to a university or other research 
institution with demonstrated experience and expertise
with domestic violence issues to conduct a study of the 
National Domestic Violence Hotline for the purpose of 
conducting the research described under subsection (c), 
and for the input, interpretation, and dissemination of re-
search data. 
(b) APPLICATION.—Each university or research insti-
tution desiring to receive a grant under this section shall 
submit an application to the Attorney General, at such 
time, in such manner, and accompanied by such additional 
information as the Attorney General, in consultation with 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Na-
tional Domestic Violence Hotline, may reasonably require. 
(c) ISSUES TO BE STUDIED.—The study described 
in subsection (a) shall—
(1) compile statistical and substantive informa-
tion about calls received by the Hotline since its in-
ception, or a representative sample of such calls, 
while maintaining the confidentiality of Hotline call-
ers; 
(2) interpret the data compiled under para-
graph (1)—
(A) to determine the trends, gaps in serv-
ices, and geographical areas of need; and
(B) to assess the trends and gaps in serv-
ices to underserved communities and the mili-
tary community; and 
(3) gather other important information about 
domestic violence. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 3 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the grantee conducting the study 
under this section shall submit a report on the results of 
such study to Congress and the Attorney General. 
SEC. 5. GRANT TO RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF DOMES-
TIC VIOLENCE ISSUES. 
(a) GRANT AUTHORIZED.—Not later than 6 months 
after the submission of the report required under section 
4(d), the Attorney General, in consultation with the Sec-
retary of Health and Human Services and the National 
Domestic Violence Hotline, shall award a grant to an ex-
perienced organization to conduct a public awareness cam-
paign to increase the public’s understanding of domestic 
violence issues and awareness of the National Domestic 
Violence Hotline. 
(b) APPLICATION.—Each organization desiring to re-
ceive a grant under this section shall submit an application 
to the Attorney General, at such time, in such manner, 
and accompanied by such additional information as the 
Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of
Health and Human Services and the National Domestic 
Violence Hotline, may reasonably require. 
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated, for each of the fiscal years 2006 and 2007—
(1) $500,000 to carry out section 3; 
(2) $250,000 to carry out section 4; and 
(3) $800,000 to carry out section 5. 
(b) AVAILABILITY.—Any amounts appropriated pur-
suant to the authority of subsection (a) shall remain avail-
able until expended. 
(c) NONEXCLUSIVITY.—Nothing in this section shall 
be construed to limit or restrict the National Domestic Vi-
olence Hotline to apply for and obtain Federal funding 
from any other agency or department or any other Federal 
grant program. 
(d) NO CONDITION ON APPROPRIATIONS.—Amounts 
appropriated pursuant to subsection (a) shall not be con-
sidered amounts appropriated for purposes of the condi-
tions imposed under section 316(g)(2) of the Family Vio-
lence 
Prevention 
and 
Services 
Act 
(42 
U.S.C. 
10416(g)(2)).
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