[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 4885]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       INTRODUCTION OF THE VICTIMS OF CRIME FAIRNESS ACT OF 2003

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ROB SIMMONS

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 26, 2003

  Mr. SIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation 
important to victims of crime and their families. The Victims of Crime 
Act, or VOCA, was a tremendous victory in the fight to aid those 
affected by crime. It established a trust fund composed of criminal 
fines, forfeited bail bonds, penalty fees and special assessments 
collected by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, U.S. Courts and Federal 
Bureau of Prisons.
  Sadly, a spending cap was installed on the VOCA trust fund. This 
trust fund generates close to $1 billion dollars each year, yet only an 
average of $535 is actually distributed annually to the states. While 
state crime victim assistance programs struggle to remain fully funded, 
the balance just sits there unused. My legislation, the ``Victim of 
Crime Fairness Act of 2003'' would eliminate this spending cap and 
direct the money toward its original intention, helping victims of 
crime.
  Every day we see in our local news stories of homicides, sexual 
assaults, child abuse, drunk driving accidents, kidnapping and arson. 
The list goes on and on. I applaud President Bush for his efforts to 
strengthen and organize security on all fronts for our country. 
Preventing all crimes, whether they are acts of terrorism or domestic 
abuse, is the first step in creating a more peaceful world. However, 
when a crime does occur there is a victim. This victim is stripped of 
their security, their dignity, and often times their physical 
capability to function normally in the day-to-day world. Eliminating 
the spending cap on the VOCA trust fund would allow victim advocates to 
do their job. It is a fact; helping mend people's lives that have been 
tragically altered by crime cannot be done for free.
  My state of Connecticut loses almost $5 million a year due to the 
VOCA cap. This money could make all the difference in thousands of 
peoples lives. Connecticut's State Victim Advocate James Papillo wrote, 
``The programs funded by the VOCA fund benefit crime victims in 
Connecticut through direct financial support and crime victim support 
services. These funds help crime victims when they most need it. Given 
the substantial reduction in the amount of funds available to the 
states caused by federal earmarks, and the real need for increased 
services to crime victims in Connecticut, it is clear that removal of 
the cap is necessary to ensure that Connecticut will be able to meet 
the needs of crime victims.''
  The Victims of Crime Fairness Act of 2003 is common sense 
legislation. I ask my colleagues to join me in helping victims of crime 
by eliminating the VOCA fund spending cap.

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