[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 81 (Tuesday, May 11, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S2459]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 206--SUPPORTING THE DESIGNATION OF THE WEEK OF APRIL 
   18 THROUGH APRIL 24, 2021, AS NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS' RIGHTS WEEK

  Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Leahy, Mr. 
Tillis, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Scott of Florida, Mr. Whitehouse, Mrs. 
Shaheen, and Mr. Wyden) submitted the following resolution; which was 
considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 206

       Whereas crime and victimization in the United States have 
     significant, and sometimes life shattering, impacts on 
     victims, survivors, and communities across the United States;
       Whereas research suggests that there are several million 
     violent victimizations each year in the United States, yet 
     less than half of all violent crimes are ever reported to 
     police;
       Whereas crime victims and survivors need and deserve 
     support and access to services to help them cope with the 
     physical, psychological, financial, and other adverse effects 
     of crime;
       Whereas Congress has recognized the importance of 
     supporting crime victims and survivors through the passage of 
     legislation concerning this important issue, including--
       (1) the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (34 U.S.C. 20101 et 
     seq.);
       (2) the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (34 U.S.C. 12291 
     et seq.);
       (3) the Survivors' Bill of Rights Act of 2016 (Public Law 
     114-236; 130 Stat. 966);
       (4) the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (42 
     U.S.C. 10401 et seq.);
       (5) the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 
     U.S.C. 7101 et seq.);
       (6) the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act (34 
     U.S.C. 21701 et seq.);
       (7) the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim 
     Assistance Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-299; 132 Stat. 4383);
       (8) the Scott Campbell, Stephanie Roper, Wendy Preston, 
     Louarna Gillis, and Nila Lynn Crime Victims' Rights Act 
     (Public Law 108-405; 118 Stat. 2261); and
       (9) the Justice for All Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-405; 
     118 Stat. 2260);

       Whereas crime can touch the life of any individual, 
     regardless of the age, race, national origin, religion, or 
     gender of that individual;
       Whereas a just society acknowledges the impact of crime on 
     individuals, families, schools, and communities by protecting 
     the rights of crime victims and survivors;
       Whereas crime victims and survivors in the United States, 
     and the families of those victims and survivors, need and 
     deserve support and assistance to help cope with the often 
     devastating consequences of crime;
       Whereas, since Congress adopted the first resolution 
     designating Crime Victims Week in 1985, communities across 
     the United States have joined Congress and the Department of 
     Justice in commemorating National Crime Victims' Rights Week 
     to celebrate a shared vision of a comprehensive and 
     collaborative response that identifies and addresses the many 
     needs of crime victims and survivors and the families of 
     those victims and survivors;
       Whereas the Senate applauds the work of crime victims 
     advocates to ensure that all crime victims and survivors, and 
     the families of those victims and survivors, are--
       (1) treated with dignity, fairness, and respect;
       (2) offered support and services, regardless of whether the 
     victims and survivors report crimes committed against them; 
     and
       (3) recognized as key participants within the criminal, 
     juvenile, Federal, and Tribal justice systems in the United 
     States when the victims and survivors report crimes; and
       Whereas the Senate recognizes and appreciate the continued 
     importance of--
       (1) promoting the rights of, and services for, crime 
     victims and survivors; and
       (2) honoring crime victims and survivors, and the 
     individuals who provide services for those victims and 
     survivors: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports--
       (A) the designation of the week of April 18 through April 
     24, 2021, as National Crime Victims' Rights Week; and
       (B) the theme of National Crime Victims' Rights Week 2021, 
     ``Support Victims. Build Trust. Engage Communities.'', which 
     emphasizes the importance of leveraging community support to 
     help crime victims and survivors;
       (2) recognizes that crime victims and survivors, and the 
     families of those victims and survivors, should be treated 
     with dignity, fairness, and respect;
       (3) applauds the work carried out by thousands of victim 
     assistance organizations and agencies that serve crime 
     survivors at the local, State, Federal, and Tribal levels;
       (4) remains committed to funding programs authorized by the 
     Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (34 U.S.C. 20101 et seq.) and 
     the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (34 U.S.C. 12291 et 
     seq.), among other Federal programs, which help thousands of 
     public, community-based, and Tribal victim and survivor 
     assistance organizations and agencies that provide essential, 
     and often life-saving, services to millions of crime victims 
     throughout the United States; and
       (5) encourages the observance of the 40th anniversary of 
     National Crime Victims' Rights Week with appropriate public 
     awareness, education, and outreach activities.

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