Tester announces resources to combat sexual violence in the Bakken

Support stems from Violence Against Women Act

(U.S. SENATE) – Senator Jon Tester today announced that eastern Montana will receive more resources to fight domestic and sexual violence in the Bakken region.

The support comes from the Violence Against Women Act’s (VAWA) Bakken Regional Initiative, which aims to reduce domestic violence and offer increased support to survivors in the growing region.

The grants to reduce sexual violence will go to:

• Montana Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence – $750,000
• Fort Peck Assiniboine And Sioux Tribes – $689,823

Tester is a strong supporter of the Violence Against Women Act and taking action to address the social and economic changes in the Bakken. He is holding a Senate field hearing on Friday, Sept. 26, at 9:00 a.m. in Sidney at the Richland County Fair Event Center to take an in-depth look at infrastructure and law enforcement challenges in the region.

Tester also wrote an op-ed earlier this month marking the 20th Anniversary of VAWA and held a hearing as the Chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee on human trafficking in the Bakken.