[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 194 (Monday, December 10, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1631-E1632]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             PROTECTING THE CRIME VICTIMS' FUND: A RARE GEM

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                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, December 10, 2018

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, when most Americans think about the 
federal government, they tend to think about the political gridlock and 
bureaucratic red tape that has increasingly made good governance 
difficult. But once in a blue moon, a unique and effective idea can 
emerge out of the Washington swamp, and the creation of the Crime 
Victims' Fund is a perfect example of one of those rare occurrences. 
Prior to being elected to Congress, I served as a prosecutor and Judge 
in Houston, Texas for 30 years. During that time, I learned firsthand 
how important it is to protect and help restore the most vulnerable in 
our society. Upon arriving in Washington after my election and learning 
about the Crime Victims' Fund, I knew how special the idea was, and I 
was determined to protect and expand it.
  In 1984, President Reagan signed the Victims of Crime Act or VOCA 
into law, thus creating the Crime Victims' Fund. Back then, this Fund 
was a novel idea. Convicted federal felons pay fees and fines into the 
Fund, which then helps pay for services to restore victims of crime. 
The Fund helps pay restitution to victims; it allows domestic violence 
shelters, rape crisis centers, and other organizations to keep their 
doors open; and it pays for a wide array of services that crime victims 
need, from rape kits to beds in a shelter. I want to be clear: this is 
not taxpayer money. This Fund allows criminals to pay for the harm that 
they've caused. In other words, it's like criminals paying rent on the 
courthouse.
  At the end of FY2016, the Crime Victims Fund had a balance of more 
than $12 billion. Unfortunately, this money--billions of dollars--has 
been used as an offset for other unrelated programs. I understand the 
attraction of using a program of this size to help offset other items 
under the budget, but it is still completely inappropriate. These are 
non-tax dollars. To ensure that the Fund is protected and used 
correctly, every year Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA) and I have introduced the 
Crime Victims' Fund Preservation Act. This bill creates a ``lockbox'' 
to ensure that money in the Fund cannot be used for any purpose other 
than crime victims' programs authorized under the VOCA statute.
  Since its creation, the Fund has been a lifeline for victims, 
offering them the resources and assistance they need to recover and 
rebuild their lives. This money should never be subject to the politics 
or gridlock that often derails or hampers other federal programs. The 
Fund is a rare Washington D.C. gem, a program that serves victims of 
crime while not being a burden on the American tax-payer. We must work 
to preserve this Fund and ensure it is protected for the future.

[[Page E1632]]

  And that's just the way it is.

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