Fitzpatrick, Wagner join bipartisan, bicameral effort to replenish fund for crime victims

U.S. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Ann Wagner (R-MO) on Monday joined a bipartisan, bicameral group of congressional members to unveil legislation that would authorize the deposit of certain funds into the Crime Victims Fund and would waive matching requirements.

The Crime Victims Fund (CVF) was established by the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) and is a major source of federal funding for thousands of victim service providers across the nation, said Rep. Fitzpatrick, including programs that serve victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, trafficking, and drunk driving. 

“Funding for VOCA’s Crime Victims Fund has continued to decline, and this problem has only been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

Rep. Fitzpatrick is the lead original cosponsor of 16 other original cosponsors, including Reps. Wagner, Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and John Moolenaar (R-MI), of the VOCA Fix to Sustain the Crime Victims Fund Act of 2021, H.R. 1652, which was sponsored on March 8 by U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY). 

The U.S. Senate version of the bill, S. 611, was introduced on March 4 by bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and 26 original cosponsors, including U.S. Sens. Joni Ernst (R-IA), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Rob Portman (R-OH). 

“The Crime Victims Fund ensures that survivors of serious crimes can access critical services and rebuild their lives,” Rep. Wagner said. “Thousands of Americans, many of whom have suffered domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, human trafficking, and drunk driving, depend on the fund for compensation and lifesaving care.”

The congresswoman noted that current funding “has hit dangerously low levels” and the proposed funding fix “could help those at their most vulnerable recover as our justice system prosecutes the criminals responsible.”

VOCA grants also fund victim compensation, including paying medical bills, covering lost wages, and paying for funeral costs and they are not taxpayer funded. Instead, the grants are paid out of the Crime Victims Fund (CVF), which is funded through federal criminal monetary penalties, according to the lawmakers.

“Our bipartisan, bicameral legislation will fix VOCA funding mechanisms and implement better support for our state victim compensation programs, therefore providing victims in our communities with the hope and crucial, lifesaving services they need and deserve,” added Rep. Fitzpatrick.

If enacted, the measure also would require the U.S. Department of Justice to deposit all monetary penalties, including from deferred prosecution and non-prosecution agreements, into the CVF and would improve victim compensation and services, among several provisions. 

The Crime Victims Fund Sustainability Act of 2021 is supported by more than 1,670 national, regional, state, territorial, and local organizations, such as the National Children’s Alliance, the National Criminal Justice Association, the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the National District Attorneys Association, and Casa de Esperanza: the National Latin@ Network.