[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 8, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E302-E303]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     VICTIM RESTITUTION ACT OF 1995

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                               speech of

                             HON. VIC FAZIO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 7, 1995

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 665) to 
     control crime by mandatory victim restitution:

  Mr. FAZIO. Mr. Chairman, from 1973 to 1991, over 36 million Americans 
were injured as a result of violent crime. In 1991, crime against 
people and households resulted in an estimated $19.1 billion in losses. 
Crime-related injuries typically account for more than 700,000 days of 
hospitalization annually.
  Although current law requires restitution in Federal crimes of 
domestic violence, for most other Federal crimes, judges have the 
discretion to order restitution. However, H.R. 665, the Victim 
Restitution Act, makes such restitution mandatory. If H.R. 665 is 
enacted, those convicted of Federal crimes will have to pay full 
restitution to their victims for damages caused as a result of their 
crimes. Federal courts will also be able to order restitution for any 
person--not just the direct victim of the crime--who demonstrates, 
through a preponderance of evidence, that he or she was harmed 
physically, emotionally, or financially by the offense. If the 
defendant fails to comply with the restitution order, the court could 
revoke probation or parole, modify the conditions of probation or 
parole, hold the defendant in contempt of court, enter a restraining 
order or injunction against the defendant, order the sale of the 
defendant's property, or take any other action necessary to ensure 
compliance with the restitution order.
  [[Page E303]] Whatever our views are on crime and how to deal with 
it, we are in agreement that the crime victim deserves respect and 
support from society. This is an issue that unites this country--
support for victims of crime. I believe that H.R. 665 will provide 
crime victims and their families with this necessary protection and I 
therefore support its passage.


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