[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 121 (Wednesday, July 30, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S5126]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             VICTIMS OF CHILD ABUSE ACT REAUTHORIZATION ACT

  Mr. FLAKE. Mr. President, I wish to speak on S. 1799, the Victims of 
Child Abuse Act Reauthorization Act of 2013, which recently passed the 
House of Representatives and is awaiting the President's signature. In 
addition to the bill's support for Child Advocacy Centers, it contains 
an important provision that bears mentioning. S. 1799 makes Congress' 
intent clear that money from the Crime Victims Fund should only be used 
to assist victims of crime. Since the funds for the Crime Victims Fund 
are derived from fines collected from those convicted of Federal crimes 
rather than tax revenue, Congress directed the funds to only be used 
for crime victims. I offered the provision clarifying this intent as an 
amendment to the Justice For All Act, and it was accepted unanimously 
by the Senate Judiciary Committee. I am pleased the sponsors of S. 1799 
agreed to include it at my request.
  Crime victims can face a confusing and sometimes overwhelming system, 
and so it is important for someone to explain their rights and address 
other victim-centered issues. Encumbering victim advocates with other 
non-victim-related tasks could delay or prevent the resources needed to 
meet victims' needs such as assisting victims with impact statements 
and collecting restitution information and associated receipts. It 
could also delay or prevent ongoing safety assessments for the victim. 
Victim specialists, also referred to as victim advocates, along with 
their supervisors, victim witness coordinators, should be improving 
services for the benefit of crime victims and not tasked with other 
duties, such as arranging travel for witnesses.
  My amendment makes clear it is Congress' intent that the funds 
authorized for victims services are limited to those dedicated to 
victims services and their direct support staff. This will ensure that 
that none of the funds available is used for purposes that do not 
benefit crime victims.

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