[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 37 (Thursday, February 29, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S1090]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   VICTIMS' VOICES OUTSIDE AND INSIDE THE COURTROOM EFFECTIVENESS ACT

  Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of 
S. 3706 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 3706) to amend section 3663A of title 18, United 
     States Code, to clarify that restitution includes necessary 
     and reasonable expenses incurred by a person who has assumed 
     the victim's rights.

  There being no objection, the committee was discharged, and the 
Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. SCHUMER. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read 
a third time and passed and the motion to reconsider be considered made 
and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 3706) was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, 
was read the third time, and passed, as follows:

                                S. 3706

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Victims' Voices Outside and 
     Inside the Courtroom Effectiveness Act'' or the ``Victims' 
     VOICES Act''.

     SEC. 2. RESTITUTION FOR EXPENSES OF PERSONS WHO HAVE ASSUMED 
                   THE VICTIM'S RIGHTS.

       Section 3663A(a) of title 18, United States Code, is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(4) Clarification.--In ordering restitution under this 
     section, a court shall order the defendant to make 
     restitution to a person who has assumed the victim's rights 
     under paragraph (2) to reimburse that person's necessary and 
     reasonable--
       ``(A) lost income, child care, transportation, and other 
     expenses incurred during and directly related to 
     participation in the investigation or prosecution of the 
     offense or attendance at proceedings related to the offense;
       ``(B) lost income, transportation, and other expenses 
     incurred that are directly related to transporting the victim 
     for necessary medical and related professional services and 
     devices relating to physical, psychiatric, and psychological 
     care, including nonmedical care and treatment rendered in 
     accordance with a method of healing recognized by the law of 
     the place of treatment; and
       ``(C) lost income, transportation, and other expenses 
     incurred that are directly related to transporting the victim 
     to receive necessary physical and occupational therapy and 
     rehabilitation.''.

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