Rep. Sykes Recognizes October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Leads Legislation to Protect Survivors of Domestic Violence

October 01, 2026 Rep. Sykes Recognizes October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Leads Legislation to Protect Survivors of Domestic Violence AKRON, OH – U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) recognizes October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and is reintroducing the Skills Against Violence Act . This bill would establish a new Gender-Based Violence Survivor Workforce Program at the Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women. The office would award grants to domestic violence and sexual assault service providers and coalitions with a documented history of effective work in this field. The bill authorizes $40 million per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030. Grants could fund employment counseling, occupational training, job retention counseling, and counseling on re-entering the workforce. They could also fund outreach to survivors and to employers that support a safe workspace, along with support services such as child care, disability and elder care, transportation, professional clothing and equipment, legal services, and gender-based violence and mental health counseling. Grantees would report annually on how many survivors received workforce development, occupational training, and support services, how many entered employment, and how satisfied survivors were with the services. The Director would then report to Congress every two years, beginning two years after enactment. Rep. Sykes previously introduced the Safer Homes and Families Package, a comprehensive legislative slate consisting of four bills to protect survivors and strengthen support systems nationwide: the Fair Social Security for Domestic Violence Survivors Act , the Better Care for Domestic Violence Survivors Act , the Break Free from Domestic Violence Act , and the Electronic Stalking Act . “Every person deserves to live free from fear and violence,” said Rep. Sykes. “I’m committed to standing with survivors and delivering real solutions that help them rebuild their lives. During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we honor the courage of survivors and highlight the urgent need for stronger protections. The bills I’ve led reflect our promise to create safer communities where every person can heal, thrive, and live with dignity." "A paycheck can be the difference between staying and leaving. Economic abuse occurs in 99% of domestic violence cases and is one of the most powerful ways abusers keep survivors trapped,” said Maria York, Director of Policy and Communication, Ohio Domestic Violence Network. “Here in Ohio, intimate partner violence costs our state nearly $1.2 billion every year, including $227.7 million in lost work productivity. ODVN applauds the Skills Against Violence Act for investing in job training, career support, and wraparound services like childcare and transportation that survivors need to build lasting financial independence. We're grateful to Rep. Sykes for being a continuous champion for survivors, this Domestic Violence Awareness Month and every month." “Each of these bills represents a critical step toward removing the barriers that keep survivors trapped in unsafe situations,” said Teresa Stafford Wright, CEO of Hope & Healing Survivor Resource Center. “The Fair Social Security for Domestic Violence Survivors Act, the Better Care for Domestic Violence Survivors Act, and the Break Free From Domestic Violence Act all recognize that safety, health, and financial stability are deeply interconnected. By expanding access to financial resources, trauma-informed care, and safe housing options, this legislation affirms that survivors deserve not only protection from violence but the opportunity to rebuild their lives with dignity and independence.” “Survivors should not have to choose between healing and thriving, nor should they have to finish healing before they are given opportunities to thrive. When survivors have access to skills training, safe working spaces, and opportunities to build sustainable careers, healing and economic independence can happen alongside each other. That is what creates pathways toward long term self sufficiency,” said Dr. Antoria Gillon, Founder and CEO of From Ordinary to Extraordinary. “The National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) is proud to support the Skills Against Violence Act. Economic security is a critical part of safety for survivors of domestic violence. Financial abuse, disrupted employment, damaged credit, and other economic barriers can make it harder for survivors to leave an abusive relationship and build a safe, stable future for themselves and their families,” said Tonia Moultry-Pace, NNEDV Interim President & CEO. “We are grateful to Congresswoman Sykes for introducing the Skills Against Violence Act, which will create meaningful workforce development opportunities for survivors and help them build the skills and economic stability needed to rebuild.” The Fair Social Security for Domestic Violence Survivors Act would lower the current 10-year marriage requirement for spousal Social Security benefits to five years for individuals who divorce due to domestic abuse. This change would prevent survivors from being financially penalized for leaving unsafe relationships and help them achieve economic independence. The Better Care for Domestic Violence Survivors Act invests $50 million over five years in a pilot program to train healthcare providers in evidence-based, trauma-informed care. Because survivors often seek medical attention during or after abuse, this initiative would help healthcare professionals identify and support victims more effectively, potentially saving lives through earlier intervention. The Break Free From Domestic Violence Act ensures survivors of domestic violence, stalking or sexual assault can break a lease without penalty, giving them the freedom to leave dangerous living situations without facing financial or legal consequences. The Stop Electronic Stalking Act would prohibit the use of personal tracking devices to track people without their consent. Rep. Sykes introduced similar legislation in the Ohio legislature which was later signed into law by Governor DeWine. In Ohio, there were 157 domestic violence fatalities from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, including 11 children. This marks a ten year high in fatalities due to domestic violence in Ohio. In 2025, 3,703 incidents of domestic violence were reported in Summit County, and 2,215 incidents in Stark County. Rep. Sykes has long been a champion for survivors, earning bipartisan support and delivering tangible results. Last year, Rep. Sykes secured a $500,000 Transitional Housing Assistance grant for Domestic Violence Project Inc., providing critical resources to help survivors rebuild their lives. She has also co-sponsored the Healing Partnerships for Survivors Act , Safe Vehicle Access for Survivors Act , Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2025 , Lori Jackson-Nicolette Elias Domestic Violence Survivor Protection Act , the National Domestic Violence Awareness Month Resolution , & the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act of 2025 . Throughout the appropriations process, she has been a strong advocate for funding for domestic violence and family violence programs, signing onto bipartisan requests for robust funding in FY27. As a member of the Ohio House of Representatives prior to her time in Congress, Rep. Sykes authored Ohio H.B. 1, which became law and extended protective orders to victims of dating violence for the first time in the state’s history. Print Email Share Tweet