[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 64 (Wednesday, April 9, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S2484]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS' RIGHTS WEEK

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, today, I come to the floor to support 
National Crime Victims' Rights Week.
  For many years, I have pressed the Department of Justice to do its 
part to shore up what is called the Crime Victims Fund. That fund 
supports victims and survivors of crime across the Nation.
  On Monday, I, along with Senators Ernst, Crapo, and Risch, sent a 
letter to the Department of Justice. That letter urges the Department 
of Justice to ensure that criminal fines and penalties are collected 
and deposited into the Crime Victims Fund.
  I made this request because last Congress, my oversight revealed 
Biden administration failures. Specifically, since the enactment of the 
Victims of Crime Act Fix in 2021, the Biden Justice Department failed 
to collect and deposit more than $1 billion in criminal fines and 
penalties, which belongs to this fund. Instead, the Biden 
administration allowed the fines to be paid to foreign governments and 
elsewhere.
  Since my oversight shined the light on the Biden Justice Department's 
failures and misguided approach, the Department of Justice inspector 
general opened its own independent audit. And at my request, the 
Government Accountability Office also agreed to review the Department 
of Justice's administration of this Crime Victims Fund.
  History has shown that sunshine is the best disinfectant. Since my 
Crime Victims Fund oversight began, the balance increased from $1 
billion in 2023--the lowest in over a decade--to its current balance of 
$4-3/10 billion. Now, those figures that I just gave you came from the 
Department of Justice statistics.
  The Department of Justice must ensure that the Crime Victims Fund has 
adequate resources, and if the Department of Justice doesn't, 
organizations across the Nation helping survivors and helping victims 
of crime are at serious risk of potentially closing their doors and not 
being able to continue this help.
  The Department of Justice shouldn't allow the mistakes of the Biden 
administration to happen again.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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