New bipartisan legislation cosponsored by U.S. Rep. Patrick Meehan (R-PA) would protect and strengthen the Crime Victims Fund, preventing it from being used to cover budget shortfalls.

H.R. 3984 – the Fairness for Crime Victims Act of 2015 – was introduced by Reps. Joe Pitts (R-PA) and Brendan Boyle (D-PA), with companion legislation introduced in the Senate by Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA).

“The Crime Victims Fund was created by Congress to help victims cope with and recover from sexual abuse, domestic violence, and other brutal crimes,” Meehan said. “It helps victims fund counseling, emergency shelter, medical expenses and other costs. It helps us keeps victims of federal crimes informed of case developments and proceedings, alerts them when offenders are released, and improves the investigation of child abuse and cases of neglect. And it supports victims’ services organizations that provide crucial care to those in need.”

The Crime Victims Fund was established as part of the 1984 Victims of Crimes Act. The special assessment on convicted persons pays into the fund, as do certain other criminal fines and penalties, as well as forfeited bail bonds. The unspent balance of the fund reached $9 billion by Sept. 2013.

The fund allows each state to disperse funds for numerous reasons, including compensation for pain and suffering, property replacement, lost wages, property restoration and cleaning of crime scenes.

“Congress never intended for it to be used to cover unrelated federal expenses,” Meehan said. “This legislation will prevent Congress from using those dollars for other means. It will nearly quadruple the amount of money available to support victims.

“There’s always more we can be doing to help the victims of brutal crime. The Crime Victims Fund should be used for the benefit of crime victims. It’s as simple as that.”