[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 151 (Tuesday, November 15, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2365-E2366]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          AMERICA'S UNSUNG HEROES--THE CRIME VICTIM ADVOCATES

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 15, 2005

  Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, each and every Member of Congress has crime 
victim advocates in his or her District. It's likely you hear from them 
now and again, particularly when critical funding for crime victim 
services is at stake--like the Administration's proposal to drain the 
Crime Victim Fund to balance the budget--or you may hear from them when 
they plead that victims' rights are enforced in accordance with the 
law. It's also likely that you have an inkling of what these folks do 
for a living. But I'm pretty sure that you don't know just how much 
victim advocates are the ``unsung heroes'' of America today.
  Back when I was a prosecutor in the great state of Texas, we didn't 
have ``victim advocates.'' There was nobody to provide the victim with 
support and guidance. The criminal and juvenile justice systems were 
like a maze to them and, let me tell you, the laboratory mice did a lot 
better in finding the cheese! Crime victims were lost. Crime victims 
were forgotten. Crime victims were merely ``evidence'' used to 
successfully prosecute criminal cases. Crime victims were ``re-
victimized'' on a daily basis by a system that should be designed to 
protect them.
  At the end of my days as a prosecutor and the beginning of my days as 
a judge, I started to see these folks called ``victim advocates'' in 
court. Back then, their job was to notify victims of the status of 
their cases and offenders, and explain to them what is often an 
overwhelming criminal justice process. But if you listened to victims 
back then, they would tell you that their advocates were so much more. 
They were a ``Rock of Gibraltar'' in a rocking sea of confusion. They 
were there to hold their hands and provide comfort. They were, as one 
prosecutor from Texas last month noted, ``the centerpiece of the 
courtroom'' when it came to helping crime victims and witnesses.
  I was privileged earlier this month to deliver a keynote speech at 
the National Conference of State VOCA Assistance and Crime Victim 
Compensation Administrators in New Mexico. These are folks that, every 
single minute of every single day, are on ``the front line for victims 
of crime.'' There were over 300 ``victim advocates'' in the house, and 
I think it is well worth the time of the U.S. Congress to recognize 
them.

  You should know about the remarkable victim advocates who spent the 
last year planning this conference, and spent some really quality time 
learning from each other about how to better help crime victims. For 4 
days, state-level victim advocates who oversee funding for vital victim 
services, and manage state victim compensation programs that help 
victims recover from the financial losses resulting from crime, came 
together to teach each other, and learn from each other, and figure out 
ways to improve assistance to crime victims in ALL our Districts.
  Let me begin by saluting John Gillis, the Director of the U.S. 
Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime. John knows too well 
the impact of crime on victims. When he was an LAPD detective almost 30 
years ago, his beautiful daughter Louarna was murdered by gang members 
in a vicious ``kill a cop's kid'' murder that would move them up the 
gang hierarchy.
  John and his wife Patsy reacted to Louarna's death as so many crime 
victims and survivors do. They became activists to change how our 
criminal justice system treats victims, and change how our society 
views victims. John has spent the last three decades fighting for crime 
victims' rights, and does so now at the helm of the Office for Victims 
of Crime, considered the ``mother ship'' of victim assistance in 
America. John has become a friend and someone whom I admire and deeply 
respect. He is our nation's leading ``victim advocate'' and crime 
victims everywhere in America are fortunate to have him at the Office 
for Victims of Crime.
  Next, I would like to recognize the Directors of the two national 
associations that help states manage funding for victim services and 
victim compensation.
  Steve Derene is the Director of the National Association of VOCA 
Assistance Administrators. Back in 1984, he helped craft the Victims of 
Crime Act, which uses fines and fees assessed against convicted Federal 
offenders to support crime victim services. He has been a true advocate 
for victims in Wisconsin and, in the past five years, for victims 
across our nation. He is known as ``Stevie Wonder'' because he, more 
than most, has embraced technology as a means to facilitate more 
effective justice processes and victim assistance; and because it seems 
he is on call 24/7 to help victims and those who serve them.

  Dan Eddy is the Director of the National Association of Crime Victim 
Compensation Boards. Dan is a quiet, unassuming victim advocate, but 
the impact of his work is far-reaching. Under his direction, victims of 
crime in all of our Districts have received millions of dollars--again, 
not from taxpayers but from convicted offenders--to help them cope with 
the financial impact of crime. Dan Eddy is truly an ``unsung hero'' 
whose efforts are felt in states, communities, neighborhoods and homes 
across America each and every day.
  The Presidents of both Associations--Joe Hood from Georgia and Larry 
Tackman from New Mexico--also deserve mention. These are two men with a 
true vision for the field of crime victim services. When they are not 
managing their state VOCA and compensation programs, they are working 
hard to promote strength and unity in victim services across our land. 
With their respective Boards of Directors, they put on a fine 
conference, and deserve our thanks.
  I am guessing ya'll have attended events where everything ran very 
smoothly. I can assure you this doesn't happen by ``accident.'' So let 
me tip my hat to Ms. Gillian Nevers, who had an illustrious career as a 
Wisconsin victim advocate, and who earlier this month facilitated one 
of the best victim assistance training conferences ever.
  And now I'd like to introduce you to some wonderful victim advocates 
from New Mexico, and know that my colleagues from New Mexico join me in 
thanking them. These are the folks who not only put on the conference I 
attended, but also help victims of their state

[[Page E2366]]

every day, in ways large and small. These are people for 
whom compassion is part of their DNA. Let me introduce you to the staff 
of the New Mexico Crime Victims Reparation Commission: Kristy Ring, 
Deputy Director; Robin Brassie, VOCA Administrator; Sheila Allen, VAWA 
Administrator; Julie Duren, Reparation Officer Supervisor; Terri 
Ruegger, Financial & HR Officer; Dorothy Padilla; Randy Vallejos; Debra 
Yepa; Jacqueline Chavez; Denise Jaramillo; Mary Anne Garcia; Michele 
Threlkel; Moises Valdez; Paula Smith; Debra Simpson; Suzanne Gallegos; 
Wendy Archibeque, and Robert Norfor.

  You are simply hearing their names. But I had the chance to meet 
them, and want you to know that our Nation is a better place because of 
their ongoing commitment to helping victims of crime.
  And that's just the way it is.

                          ____________________