[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 19]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 26137-26138]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        INTRODUCTION OF THE CRIME VICTIMS ASSISTANCE ACT OF 2003

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 28, 2003

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce the Crime Victims 
Assistance Act of 2003 to benefit victims of crime here and throughout 
the country during a period when crime has increased as well as to help 
the police resolve more crimes. I commend the authors of the original 
bill introduced in the Senate by Judiciary Committee Ranking Member 
Patrick Leahy, Minority Leader Tom Daschle, and Senators Jon Corzine, 
Dick Durbin, Russ Feingold, Tim Johnson, Edward Kennedy, John Kerry, 
Patty Murray and Charles Schumer. The bill will provide enhanced rights 
and protections for victims of federal crimes and will assist victims 
of state crimes with grant programs designed to promote compliance with 
state victims rights laws. The bill requires that victims concerns be 
incorporated into decision-making throughout the proceedings. I have 
changed the Senate bill only to assure the safety of those who have a 
personal relationship (family or other) with the victim.
  This bill is an alternative to the constitutional amendment approach 
proposed by some in the Congress. As a lawyer who specialized in 
constitutional matters early in my legal career,

[[Page 26138]]

I am confident that the improved rights and benefits that victims 
justifiably seek are well within existing congressional authority to 
grant through the legislative process. The protracted constitutional 
process simply puts the most arduous, lengthy and, in this case, 
unnecessary process in the path toward the rights and funds crime 
victims need now.
  The bill would be particularly valuable in the District and in other 
jurisdictions where many crimes, including state crimes are processed 
through the federal courts. Among the provisions that would benefit the 
District and many other jurisdictions is a section that protects 
victims from repeat offenders. The bill requires consultation with a 
victim prior to a detention hearing in order to obtain information that 
can be presented to the court on the issue of any threat that the 
suspected offender may pose to the safety of the victim. The bill also 
requires greater notification to the victim in case of the release, 
escape, parole or furlough of the offender.
  There have been many reports of victim reluctance to testify out of 
fear of harm to a victim or her family. Understandable reluctance by a 
victim to expose herself to further victimization must be met with 
strong laws, concrete assistance and services, or crime will not be 
deterred.
  I urge my colleagues to quickly bring relief and reassurance to 
victims of federal and state crimes by enacting the Crime Victims 
Assistance Act of 2003.

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