Congressman Al Green Highlights Article About the Impacts of President Trump’s Funding Bill on Local Domestic Abuse Response Team Program

(Houston, TX) – Today, Congressman Al Green highlights an article written by Houston Chronicle staff writers Abby Church and Matt DeGrood titled, “‘Women will die:' Houston's domestic violence response team faces uncertain future as funds run dry.” This article emphasizes the vital role of the Houston Police Department’s Domestic Abuse Response Team (DART), which provides essential support to families and individuals in crisis through collaboration among police officers, medical professionals, and advocates from the Houston Area Women’s Center. A copy of the article is accessible here. 

In 2020, DART expanded due to federal funding provided by the American Rescue Plan Act. However, the program now faces the possibility of operational reductions or even cuts due to budget constraints stemming from President Trump's “One Big Ugly Steal” bill as these federal funds begin to expire. 

Congressman Al Green stated, “The DART program and the Houston Area Women’s Center are crucial lifelines for individuals impacted by domestic violence in the Houston area. President Trump’s “One Big Ugly Steal” threatens programs that save lives, paving the way for future reductions in social assistance. A sad example of this is the cuts to funding that the program has relied upon, while the current budget bill instead prioritizes tax cuts primarily for wealthy Americans and large corporations. We must continue to support federal funding for programs like DART that provide critical resources and protection for victims of these horrific crimes.”