[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16661]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                THE CRIME VICTIMS ASSISTANCE ACT OF 2001

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, on March 26, 2001, my friend Senator 
Kennedy and I introduced S. 783, the Crime Victims Assistance Act of 
2001. This legislation represents the next step in our continuing 
efforts to afford dignity and recognition to victims of crime. Among 
other things, it would enhance the rights and protections afforded to 
victims of Federal crime, establish innovative new programs to help 
promote compliance with State victim's rights laws, and vastly improve 
the manner in which the Crime Victims Fund is managed and preserved.
  Senator Kennedy and I first introduced the Crime Victims Assistance 
Act in the 105th Congress, and we reintroduced it in the 106th 
Congress. Like many other deserving initiatives, however, this much-
needed legislation took a back seat to the debate over a proposed 
victims' rights constitutional amendment. I have on several occasions 
noted my concern that we not dissipate the progress we could be making 
by focusing exclusively on efforts to amend the Constitution. 
Regretfully, I must note again that the pace of victims legislation has 
slowed noticeably and many opportunities for progress have been 
squandered.
  This year, we have a golden opportunity to make significant progress 
toward providing the greater voice and rights that crime victims 
deserve. The Crime Victims Assistance Act of 2001 enjoys broad support 
from victims groups across the country, including the National Center 
for Victims of Crime, the National Organization for Victim Assistance, 
and the National Association of Crime Victim Compensation Boards. 
Regardless of their views on the proposed constitutional amendment, 
these organizations recognize that our legislation can make a 
difference in the lives of crime victims right now.
  When I spoke about the Crime Victims Assistance Act earlier in the 
year, I expressed the hope that Democrats and Republicans, supporters 
and opponents of a constitutional amendment, would join me in advancing 
this bill through Congress. This should be a bipartisan effort, and in 
this closely divided Senate, it must be a bipartisan effort. I want to 
thank our eight Democratic cosponsors: Senators Corzine, Daschle, 
Feingold, Harkin, Johnson, Kerry, Murray, and Schumer. And I want once 
again to urge my friends on the other side of the aisle to step up to 
the plate and support this important victims' legislation.
  When it comes to recognizing the rights of victims of crime, there is 
no majority, no minority, and no middle ground. As Americans, we share 
the common desire to help victims and provide them the greater voice 
and rights that they deserve. The Crime Victims Assistance Act proposes 
some basic, common-sense reforms to our federal crime victims laws, and 
would help provide the resources necessary to assist the states in 
giving force to their own locally-tailored statutes and constitutional 
provisions. What a shame if this legislation stalls again this year, 
because we could not work together on an issue on which we share so 
much common ground.

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