[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 7 (Thursday, January 21, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S132]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ENACTMENT OF THE VICTIMS OF 
                           CRIME ACT OF 1984

  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 391 which was submitted 
earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 391) recognizing the 25th anniversary 
     of the enactment of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (42 
     U.S.C. 10601 et seq.) and the substantial contributions to 
     the Crime Victims Fund made through the criminal prosecutions 
     conducted by United States Attorneys' offices and other 
     components of the Department of Justice.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to 
reconsider be laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 391) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 391

       Whereas the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 had its 25th 
     anniversary in 2009;
       Whereas for 25 years, the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 has 
     provided funds to States for victim assistance and 
     compensation programs to support victims of crime and those 
     affected by violent crimes;
       Whereas the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 enables 
     approximately 4,400 community-based public and private 
     programs to offer services to victims of crime, including 
     crisis intervention, counseling, guidance, legal advocacy, 
     and transportation shelters;
       Whereas the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 provides 
     assistance and monetary support to over 4,000,000 victims of 
     crime each year;
       Whereas the Crime Victims Fund established under the 
     Victims of Crime Act of 1984 provides direct services to 
     victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, 
     survivors of homicide victims, elderly victims of abuse or 
     neglect, victims of drunk drivers, and other such crimes;
       Whereas in 2008, with financial support from the Victims of 
     Crime Act of 1984, State crime victim compensation programs 
     paid a total of $432,000,000 to 151,643 victims of violent 
     crime;
       Whereas since the establishment of the Crime Victims Fund 
     in 1984, non-taxpayer offender-generated funds deposited into 
     the Crime Victims Fund have been used to provide almost 
     $7,500,000,000 to State crime victim assistance programs and 
     State crime victim compensation programs;
       Whereas the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 also supports 
     services to victims of Federal crimes, by providing funds for 
     victims and witness coordinators in United States Attorneys' 
     offices, Federal Bureau of Investigation victim-assistance 
     specialists, and the Federal Victim Notification System; and
       Whereas the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 also supports 
     important improvements in the victim services field through 
     grants for training and technical assistance and evidence-
     based demonstration projects: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate recognizes--
       (1) the 25th anniversary of the enactment of the Victims of 
     Crime Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10601 et seq.); and
       (2) the substantial contributions to the Crime Victims Fund 
     made through the criminal prosecutions conducted by United 
     States Attorneys' offices and other components of the 
     Department of Justice.

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