[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 4]
[House]
[Pages 5830-5834]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




SUPPORTING THE MISSION AND GOALS OF 2010 NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS' RIGHTS 
                                  WEEK

  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 1104) supporting the mission and goals of 2010 
National Crime Victims' Rights Week to increase public awareness of the 
rights, needs, and concerns of victims and survivors of crime in the 
United States, no matter their country of origin or their creed, and to 
commemorate the National Crime Victims' Rights Week theme of ``Crime 
Victims' Rights: Fairness. Dignity. Respect.''
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1104

       Whereas over 25,000,000 individuals in the United States 
     are victims of crime each year, including over 6,000,000 
     individuals who are victims of violent crime;
       Whereas a just society acknowledges the impact of crime on 
     individuals, families, neighborhoods, and communities by 
     ensuring that rights, resources, and services are available 
     to help rebuild the lives of victims;
       Whereas although our Nation has steadily expanded rights, 
     protections, and services for victims of crime, too many 
     victims are still not able to realize the hope and promise of 
     these expanded rights, protections, and services;
       Whereas despite impressive accomplishments over the past 40 
     years in crime victims' rights and services, there remain 
     many challenges to ensuring that all victims--
       (1) are treated with fairness, dignity, and respect;
       (2) are offered support and services regardless of whether 
     they report the crimes committed against them to law 
     enforcement; and
       (3) are recognized as key participants in our system of 
     justice when such crimes are reported;
       Whereas justice systems in the United States should ensure 
     that services are available for all victims of crime, 
     including victims from underserved communities of our Nation;
       Whereas observing victims' rights and treating victims with 
     fairness, dignity, and respect serve the public interest by 
     engaging victims in the justice system, inspiring respect for 
     public authorities, and promoting confidence in public 
     safety;
       Whereas individuals in the United States recognize that our 
     homes, neighborhoods, and communities are made safer and 
     stronger by identifying and meeting the needs of crime 
     victims and ensuring justice for all;
       Whereas treating victims of crime with fairness, dignity, 
     and respect, as encouraged and expressed by the theme of 2010 
     National Crime Victims' Right Week, ``Crime Victims' Rights: 
     Fairness. Dignity. Respect.'', costs nothing more than taking 
     time to identify victims' needs and concerns, and effective 
     collaboration among justice systems to meet such needs and 
     concerns; and
       Whereas 2010 National Crime Victims' Rights Week, April 18 
     through April 24, 2010, provides an opportunity for justice 
     systems in the United States to strive to reach the goal of 
     justice for all by ensuring that all victims are afforded 
     legal rights and provided with assistance as they face the 
     financial, physical, spiritual, psychological, and social 
     impact of crime: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) supports the mission and goals of 2010 National Crime 
     Victims' Rights Week to increase public awareness of--
       (A) the impact on victims and survivors of crime; and
       (B) the constitutional and statutory rights and needs of 
     such victims and survivors;
       (2) recognizes that fairness, dignity, and respect comprise 
     the very foundation of how victims and survivors of crime 
     should be treated; and
       (3) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to 
     transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to the Office 
     for Victims of Crime within the Office of Justice Programs of 
     the Department of Justice.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Tennessee (Mr Cohen) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee.


                             General Leave

  Mr. COHEN. I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 
legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Tennessee?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. COHEN. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 1104 supports the goals and mission of 
National Crime Victims' Rights Week, celebrated this week, April 18 
through 24.
  This year's National Crime Victims' Rights Week theme is ``Crime 
Victims' Rights: Fairness. Dignity. Respect.''
  Every April individuals in communities across the country, with the 
support of the Department of Justice's Office of Victims of Crime, 
observe National Crime Victims' Rights Week. Rallies, candle-light 
vigils and many other commemorative events honor crime victims during 
this observance of victims' rights.
  National Crime Victims' Rights Week is observed to highlight the 
special needs of more than 21 million victims of crime and survivors of 
crime each year, including over 5 million victims of violent crime. 
Although the number of murder victims in 2008 fell by almost 4 percent 
from the previous year, we must remain vigilant in this fight against 
violent crime.
  During this week in April, we take time out to ensure that resources 
and services are available to help crime victims rebuild their lives 
and to acknowledge the impact of crime on individuals, families, and 
communities.
  Crime victims suffer not only from the losses that directly result 
from the crime, but also from the emotional trauma of being victimized. 
In 2007, total economic loss to victims across the country was $2 
billion for violent crime and $16 billion for property crime. This week 
is also a time to make a commitment to providing more resources to 
victims of crimes committed in the workplace, in schools, and on 
college campuses.

                              {time}  1515

  In addition, we should pay special attention to children and elderly 
victims of crime.
  National Crime Victims' Rights Week is an occasion to support crime 
victims. If we don't make a commitment to treating victims with the 
fairness, dignity, and respect they deserve, it makes it even more 
difficult for them to heal.
  For all these important reasons, I urge my colleagues to support this 
important resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.

[[Page 5831]]

  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleague and friend from 
California (Mr. Costa) as original cosponsors of this resolution to 
recognize and support the mission and goals of National Crime Victims' 
Rights Week.
  I want to thank Mr. Costa for his work on the Victims' Rights Caucus. 
California, from where he comes, is the State that started the victims 
rights movement. While Mr. Costa was in the California legislature, he 
presented and sponsored the Three Strikes law and also victim 
notification in that State. He and I are co-chairs of the Victims' 
Rights Caucus, and this caucus is comprised of 62 members from both 
sides of the aisle who are dedicated to protecting the interests and 
needs of crime victims in our Nation. Crime issues are not partisan 
issues, they are people issues. They don't recognize borders or 
district boundaries. They affect everybody in this country.
  National Crime Victims' Rights Week began in 1980, when President 
Reagan first called for a national observance to recognize and honor 
the millions of crime victims and survivors in our country. Victims' 
Rights Week also pays tribute to the thousands of victim service 
providers and professionals who provide critical support to victims 
throughout our country every day. The theme of this year's National 
Crime Victims' Rights Week is ``Crime Victims' Rights: Fairness. 
Dignity. Respect.''
  Mr. Speaker, crime touches all of us and all of our friends and all 
of our neighbors. It happens in every State and every district. It has 
many forms. In 2008, 21 million crimes were committed in the United 
States. Of these, 5 million were violent crimes, 16 million were 
property crimes, and there were over 11,000 alcohol-impaired driving 
fatalities in 2006. In 2008, the incidence of identity fraud rose for 
the first time in nearly 5 years to 10 million victims here in the 
United States.
  Crime victims are not just statistics, they are real people, real 
men, women and children, their families, their loved ones. What are we 
doing to help them? Well, we are raising awareness and highlighting 
issues important to victims. We are also protecting critical programs 
that are already in existence. Many of these programs were created by 
the landmark bill passed in 1984 called the Victims of Crime Act, or 
VOCA. This law created the VOCA fund. It's a novel concept where 
criminals who are convicted and sent to our Federal penitentiaries 
donate into a fund. That fund then is used for crime victims and crime-
victim-related organizations throughout the United States.
  This fund requires criminals to pay for the crimes they have 
committed. This money then pays for the rent on the courthouse, so to 
speak, pays for medical expenses of the victim, and sometimes it covers 
the victims' funeral costs. This is money that is funded solely by 
criminals, it is not taxpayer money, and the money should be always 
used for victims of crime.
  VOCA is the only Federal fund that caters to the needs of victims. 
Each year, over 4,400 agencies, 10,000 victim assistance programs, and 
about 4 million victims receive support and financial compensation from 
this fund whose coffers are filled by criminals who are sent to our 
penitentiaries.
  The Office of Management and Budget estimates that the Crime Victims 
Fund in 2011 will have $4.3 billion, with an additional $1 billion to 
be deposited during the year of 2011. This money is solely for the 
victims of crime, funded with money paid by criminals who cause 
criminal conduct. We should make sure that this money stays with the 
victims and is not taken by our Federal bureaucrats and used for other 
pet projects.
  Mr. Speaker, crime victims are real people who have survived 
sometimes gruesome acts of violence. Their voices must not be excluded 
from our criminal justice system. The criminal justice system should be 
justice not only for defendants of crime, but victims of crime as well.
  As we take the opportunity to honor victims and their courage and 
their memories, we renew our commitment to protect the rights of crime 
victims and provide them with effective assistance programs. We also 
commend the countless professionals and volunteers who have dedicated 
their lives to help crime victims and survivors of crime.
  I urge support of this resolution, and I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from California, my colleague in the National Conference of 
State Legislatures and my colleague here in Congress and the author of 
this resolution, Mr. Costa.
  Mr. COSTA. I want to thank the gentleman from Tennessee, my colleague 
and good friend, Representative Cohen, for his hard work not only on 
behalf of the people of Tennessee, but our Nation, in ensuring that 
good work is done. I do appreciate serving with you.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1104, to 
honor the National Crime Victims' Rights Week, which occurs this week 
from April 18 through April 24.
  As a founder and co-chair of the Congressional Victims' Rights 
Caucus, Congressman Ted Poe--who just spoke and really stated it very 
clearly. He, who in a previous life served as a judge in Texas, saw 
firsthand the challenges of trying to ensure that justice was served, 
not just to the criminals, but to ensure that the victims of those 
crimes, as he sat and listened in his court on a daily basis, were 
understood and that in ways that justice needs to, that they were 
reached out to. I want to congratulate my colleague, Congressman Ted 
Poe, for his previous service and his service today on behalf of not 
just Texans, but all Americans and those who care deeply about the 
impacts of crime and the victims that those crimes have created.
  This year, the theme is Fairness, Dignity, and Respect, three things 
which all victims deserve; fairness, dignity and respect. Last week, 
the Victims Rights Caucus hosted--Congressman Poe and I and other 
members--the Victims Rights Caucus Award ceremony to honor six 
individuals throughout the country for their outstanding 
accomplishments in the field of victim services and victim advocacy.
  The National Crime Victims' Rights Week helps us all to be more aware 
and to acknowledge and to celebrate all the providers who are there for 
victims of crime, and to support the criminal justice professionals who 
provide critical assistance to victims all across our Nation.
  I know, having been involved in California--as all of my colleagues 
in their own respective States--that these professionals, each day, on 
a 24/7 basis throughout the week, see the horrific impacts of these 
crimes.
  Crime knows no bounds, and crime victims deserve our support and 
services to help them cope. They are our neighbors, they are our 
friends, they are our family members, those who are victims of crimes. 
And as was noted earlier by my colleagues, the VOCA fund that was 
created by Congress in 1984 and signed into law by President Reagan has 
for decades now reached out and provided necessary funds for over 4,000 
organizations throughout our country to provide support for those 
victims of crime.
  So I want to encourage my colleagues to support this resolution to 
show crime victims that we stand together in a bipartisan fashion for 
that fairness, for that dignity, and for that respect, and that we will 
continue to be supportive of commonsense approaches to assisting these 
individuals in their time of need.
  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Royce), who also, being from California, helped 
sponsor and did sponsor the stalking awareness law in the State of 
California and has brought that concept to Congress as well.
  Mr. ROYCE. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  When we talk about the 5 million violent crimes that occur in this 
country every year, we should be mindful of what that means in terms of 
the shattered lives of the victims, those who survive and those who 
don't survive; their families are shattered by this experience.
  I want to take a moment and recognize someone who did a lot in 
California to help change many of the laws

[[Page 5832]]

in our State, and that is Colleen Thompson Campbell, who lost not only 
her son to violent crime, but also, in a separate case, lost her 
brother and sister-in-law to murder as well.
  I have had the opportunity to work with Colleen over the years. She 
formed an organization called MOVE, Memories of Victims Everywhere. One 
of the concepts that she had was to try, in State law, to overturn some 
of the worst decisions made by the then Rose Bird Court, which we did 
with Proposition 115. I was the author of that legislation. We could 
not get that legislation to try to restore rights between the victims 
of crime and the accused through the State legislature, so she went out 
and pounded the pavement with victims' rights groups across the State. 
And after gaining 1 million signatures, on the third try we were able 
to pass it overwhelmingly in the State of California. But that 
proposition, the Crime Victims/Speedy Trial Initiative, gave victims 
the right to a speedy trial, it gave those victims an opportunity to 
testify, it increased sentences, it increased punishment, it required 
reciprocal discovery of evidence, tried to right that balance, it 
allowed the family members of those victims to stay in the courtroom 
and follow these proceedings and not be dismissed, and allowed them 
also to go to the sentencing. I testified before the House Constitution 
Subcommittee here some years later when we had an opportunity to mold 
legislation based on what we had done in California, the victims' 
rights bill that became law, codifying crime victims' rights here at 
the Federal level.
  I would also just like to recognize another individual who was 
affected by crime, Kathleen Baty. She never even knew that the man 
stalking her really had existed when she was in high school and went to 
UCLA. She was running on campus, she was participating in sports. She 
did not know that this individual--who she had never met--had become 
obsessed with her and would take it upon himself over the next 10 years 
to follow her and stalk her relentlessly and threaten her and attempt 
to abduct her. It is phenomenal that it took legislation to actually 
prevent this crime of stalking, but that's where the concept came from, 
from this case and the case of four young women in my county of Orange 
County who all died within a span of 6 weeks. Everyone had gone to law 
enforcement and been told there is nothing we can do despite you being 
stalked until you are attacked physically. So we passed the Anti-
Stalker law--with her testifying--at the State level, and later she 
came back here and helped us with the Federal law as well.
  Why with the Federal law? Because the first thing we tell victims is 
to get away from your stalker. And when he gets out, or slips--as with 
the case of her stalker, he cut off his ankle bracelet after he was 
finally apprehended. By the way, he was apprehended on her doorstep 
after a 10-hour standoff with a knife to her throat, but he had not 
dragged her more than the required 1,000 feet, so it was not 
kidnapping.
  This is why we needed the Anti-Stalker Act, why we passed it at the 
Federal level, why we have to be aware of the rights and the needs and 
the concerns of victims of crime because these are the types of laws 
that now we have been able to pass, as I say, in Japan and overseas as 
well, in Europe. But if we look at the effect on these lives--and I 
remember Kathleen Baty coming back here to tell me about how she was 
never able to shake this individual--now we have the Federal law so 
that if the victim crosses State lines, the perpetrator cannot cross 
those State lines to pursue them.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Mr. POE of Texas. I yield the gentleman 1 additional minute.
  Mr. ROYCE. I will also mention the legislation that I authored in 
California to put fines on those who are convicted of crimes and fund 
programs in the State for victims, and we have done this at the Federal 
level as well.
  We need to do more to right the scales of justice; we need to do more 
to balance the rights of crime victims; and lastly, what this 
particular resolution here today does, we need to do more to make the 
public aware of just how out of balance these scales are to the 5 
million victims of crime every year in the United States.

                              {time}  1530

  Mr. COHEN. I would just like to say I appreciate Mr. Royce's 
comments.
  Mr. Speaker, in Tennessee, I worked to pass an antistalking law and 
was successful in doing it. They are important. Whether it's Kathleen 
in southern California or Victoria in Texas, they need to be protected, 
and we need to make sure we have such laws.
  I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New York 
(Mr. Towns) to address this subject.
  Mr. TOWNS. I would like to thank the gentleman from Memphis, 
Tennessee, for yielding to me.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1104, commemorating 
National Crime Victims' Rights Week and its theme, ``Fairness. Dignity. 
Respect.'' I would also like to reflect upon a topic that is of deep 
concern to me: violence against women.
  Domestic violence has a profound psychological impact on victims and 
survivors. There has been a 35 percent increase in domestic violence 
shelter bed use since 2002. Increased shelter utilization is evidence 
of the displacement and psychological havoc that domestic violence 
wreaks on families. We must put a stop to this.
  Nationally, one-half to two-thirds of residents in domestic violence 
shelters are children. In fact, on one day in 2007, 13,485 children 
were living in a domestic violence shelter or in a transitional housing 
facility. Another 5,526 sought services within nonresidential programs. 
Children who experience or who witness domestic violence are more 
likely to become abusers or victims, themselves.
  Beyond the home, violence in the form of sexual assault carries with 
it similar lasting psychological and sociological effects. According to 
data provided by the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, 60 
percent of cases are never even reported to the police. We know that 
one in six women and one in 33 men will be sexually assaulted in their 
lifetimes, with college-aged women four times more likely to be 
sexually assaulted.
  Both domestic violence and sexual assault have lasting implications 
on the lives of victims, survivors and their families. It is important, 
Mr. Speaker, while working towards crime prevention, that we continue 
to treat victims and survivors of sexual assault and of domestic 
violence with fairness, dignity, and respect. We must work together as 
a Nation to bring awareness to these important issues so that we may 
prevent further abuse.
  I thank the gentleman from Memphis, Tennessee (Mr. Cohen) for 
granting me the time.
  Mr. POE of Texas. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, during this debate, on which we agree this legislation 
should be passed, we have talked a lot about victims. The victims that 
we have talked about are more than statistics. They are real people.
  Before I came to Congress, I spent over 20 years on the criminal 
court bench in Houston, Texas. I saw about 25,000 people come to the 
courthouse who were charged with the most serious crimes in our 
society. Along with those defendants came other people who didn't want 
to be at the courthouse either, but they were there because they were 
chosen by defendants to be prey, in many cases, and those were victims 
of crime. They came to the courthouse. They were all races, all ages, 
of both sexes, and of all philosophies, but crime does not discriminate 
against who the victim may be.
  Before I became a judge, I was a prosecutor in Houston, Texas. I 
spent my last year prosecuting capital cases. In my office across the 
street, I have a lot of photographs of my kids, of my four kids and of 
my eight grandkids, but I also have two other photographs that have 
been in my office ever since I was at the courthouse in Houston, first 
as a prosecutor and then as a judge.
  This is a photograph of Kevin Wanstrath. He was born the same year as 
my son Kurt, but Kevin didn't have

[[Page 5833]]

the fortune of living very long. This photograph was taken just a few 
days before he was murdered.
  Kevin didn't have a lot going for him when he was born. He was born 
in Biloxi, Mississippi. His mother didn't want him, so she threw him in 
a Dempsey Dumpster. A homeless guy found him, turned him over to 
Catholic charities, and he was taken care of in that orphanage. A 
couple in Houston, Texas, by the name of John and Diana Wanstrath, a 
married couple, couldn't have children. They found Kevin. They adopted 
him, and they made Kevin Wanstrath their child.
  Unbeknownst to them, there was a relative who was plotting to kill 
John and Diana Wanstrath. Under Texas law, if the parents die, the 
child gets everything. On a summer night in Houston, Texas, two 
individuals posing as real estate agents came to the front door of John 
and Diana Wanstrath. They first shot John in the head and then shot 
Diana in the head. Then while Kevin Wanstrath was asleep in his baby 
bed and was curled up to his favorite little teddy bear--he had blue 
terry cloth pajamas on--he was shot in the back of the head. He was 
assassinated on the altar of greed.
  There were four henchmen involved in that murder. It turned out that, 
during the trial, we proved that there was another homicide, that Diana 
Wanstrath's mother was also murdered by these henchmen.
  That was a long time ago. Two of the killers received the death 
penalty. Two others went to prison for a long time. But I've always 
wondered what Kevin Wanstrath would turn out to be. He was 14 months 
old in this photograph. He didn't get to live very long, but he was a 
victim.
  Today, we've talked about victims of crime, but they were and they 
are, Mr. Speaker, real people, people who just wanted to live, to grow 
up, to play in their backyards with their dads--things that never 
happened for Kevin, for a lot of other kids in our culture and for a 
lot of adults, too.
  We as a Nation must understand that violence against people in this 
country has to end and that people who commit crimes against children 
and others, violent crimes, must be held accountable under our laws for 
the choices that they make. We as a society and we as a culture are not 
judged by the way we treat the rich, the famous, the powerful, the 
important, the politicians. We are judged by the way we treat the weak, 
the elderly, the children. That is how we are judged.
  That's why this resolution and other resolutions which talk about 
victims are important, so I urge all of my colleagues to support this 
resolution and to remember that victims are people, too. And that's 
just the way it is.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. COHEN. I appreciate the remarks of Congressman Poe, which were 
obviously heartfelt.
  Mr. Speaker, I think there is bipartisanship within this House in 
looking out for the victims of crime and in trying to see that there 
aren't more victims. Sometimes you hear speeches on the floor which are 
written or which are, maybe, not as personal in nature, but what Mr. 
Poe said was personal. His experience as a prosecutor and as a criminal 
court judge came through, and I am privileged to have listened to that 
and to be able to join in his thoughts of: That's just the way it is.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 
1104, supporting the mission and goals of 2010 National Crime Victims' 
Rights Week to increase public awareness of the rights, needs, and 
concerns of victims and survivors of crime in the United States,'' 
introduced by my distinguished colleague from California, 
Representative Costa.
  The 2010 National Crime Victims' Rights Week, April 18 through April 
24, 2010, will provide an opportunity for justice systems in the United 
States to strive to reach the goal of justice for all by ensuring that 
all victims are afforded legal rights and provided with assistance as 
they face the financial, physical, spiritual, psychological, and social 
impact of crime. The theme for 2010 is, ``Crime Victims'' Rights: 
Fairness. Dignity. Respect.''
  Although our Nation has steadily expanded rights, protections, and 
services for victims of crime, too many victims are still not able to 
recognize the hope and promise of these expanded rights, protections, 
and services. Over 25,000 individuals in the United States are victims 
of crime each year, including over 6,000,000 individuals who are 
victims of violent crime.
  Despite impressive accomplishments over the past 40 years in crime 
victims' rights and services, there remain many challenges to ensuring 
all victims--(1) treated with fairness, dignity, and respect; (2) are 
offered support and services regardless of whether the crimes committed 
against them to law enforcement; and (3) are recognized as key 
participants in our system of justice when such crimes are reported.
  Observing victims' rights and treating victims with fairness, 
dignity, and respect serve the public interest by engaging victims in 
the justice system, inspiring respect for public authorities, and 
promoting confidence in safety. Justice systems in the United States 
should ensure that services are available for all victims of crime, 
including victims from underserved communities of our Nation.
  A just society acknowledges the impact of crime on individuals, 
families, neighborhoods, and communities by ensuring that rights, 
resources, and services available to help rebuild the lives of victims. 
Individuals in the United States recognize that our homes, 
neighborhoods, and communities are made safer and stronger by 
identifying and meeting the needs of crime victims and ensuring justice 
for all. Treating victims' of crime with fairness, dignity, and respect 
costs nothing more than taking time to identify victims' needs and 
concerns, and effective collaboration among justice systems to meet 
such needs and concerns.
  I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 1104 in increasing the public 
awareness of the impact on victims' and survivors of crime and the 
constitutional and statutory rights and needs of victims' and 
survivors. We all have an obligation in protecting the rights of all 
people and ensuring that they receive the respect and dignity they 
deserve.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my 
strong support for H. Res. 1104, Supporting the mission and goals of 
2010 National Crime Victims' Rights Week to increase public awareness 
of the rights, needs, and concerns of victims and survivors of crime in 
the United States. I would also like to commend Congressman Jim Costa, 
the sponsor of this resolution, for his commitment to increasing 
awareness of protecting the rights, needs, and concerns of victims and 
survivors of crime in the United States.
  This resolution draws critical attention to the impact that crime has 
on the people of the United States. There are over 25 million 
individuals in the United States that are victims of crime each year, 
including over 6 million individuals who are victims of violent crime. 
Crime is a major part of everyday society. The effects of crime touch 
just about everyone to some degree; the primary group affected are 
innocent citizens.
  According to a United Nations report, the United States is the 
leading country in financial loss due to violent crimes; the cost is 
estimated around $45 billion. During a time of recession, this 
information sheds more light on the impact crime has on our society.
  In Georgia alone there are over 422,589 crimes that are reported each 
year. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation, GBI, is working hard to 
provide the highest quality investigative, scientific, and information 
services and resources to the criminal justice community and others as 
authorized by law. At this time, the Investigative Division of the 
Georgia Bureau of Investigation is prioritizing its resources to combat 
violent crime in Georgia. Death investigation, investigations of 
violent crime, and investigations of drug activity which directly 
contribute to violent crime, currently consume the majority of 
Investigative Division resources. GBI agents are constantly exploring 
and developing more effective investigative techniques to address 
violent crime.
  The Dekalb County Police Department understands and strongly embraces 
the philosophy and strategy of Community Oriented Policing in their 
daily operations and functions. Proactive strategies that promote 
lasting crime reduction and problem-solving will be developed and 
implemented. This will be accomplished through a working partnership 
based on mutual trust, understanding and a shared responsibility in all 
branches of government, the police department, the private sector, each 
citizen and within all of our communities. I would have to agree with 
President Obama when he said, ``We are going to do everything in our 
power as long as I'm in the White House and as long as I'm the father 
of two girls to make sure that we're providing the states the support 
that they need''; these words were Obama's commitment to continue to 
fight crime, and provide law enforcement with the necessary tools. 
During my time as a

[[Page 5834]]

Dekalb County commissioner I worked in conjunction with local police 
departments to combat crime and keep my community safe. As a former 
commissioner, judge, and a father of two children myself, I understand 
the detrimental impact that crime can have on a community and the 
importance of increasing awareness of protecting the rights of victims 
and survivors of crime.
  Please join me and support this resolution to bring awareness to the 
rights, needs, and concerns of victims and survivors of crime in the 
United States.
  Mr. REICHERT. Mr. Speaker, I ask that we take time to recognize 
National Crime Victims' Rights Week. As a law enforcement officer for 
33 years, protecting victims of crime and their rights is a mission 
close to my heart.
  In the King County Sheriff's office, I saw unspeakable tragedies 
firsthand. I saw the consequences of crime and how it affects victims--
sometimes for the rest of their lives. There are few things more 
painful than looking into the eyes of a victim, knowing that a 
criminal's selfish, terrible deed has done irreparable damage to an 
innocent life.
  As a cop, you live with the hard truth that you can't prevent every 
crime. But what we can all do is provide as much support and aid to 
victims as possible. We can help them receive justice and return some 
normalcy to their lives.
  I urge my colleagues to keep victims of crimes in their hearts and 
minds, especially when voting for measures that will support their 
ability to move beyond the tragedies they've suffered and are working 
to overcome.
  Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1104, 
which supports the mission and goals of 2010 National Crime Victims' 
Rights Week and promotes public awareness of the rights, needs, and 
concerns of victims and survivors of crime. This is an important 
measure that helps to ensure that all victims are treated with dignity, 
fairness, and respect, and that victims have access to the support and 
treatment that they need and deserve.
  I thank Chairman Conyers for his leadership in bringing this bill to 
the floor. I also thank the sponsor of this legislation, Congressman 
Jim Costa, for his dedication to ensuring that our society is committed 
to the rights and compassionate treatment of crime victims.
  Mr. Speaker, over 25,000,000 individuals are victims of crime every 
year; more than 6,000,000 of them are victims of violent crimes. In my 
district, nearly 7 out of every 1,000 residents of Long Beach, 
California suffered a violent crime in 2008. Over the past 40 years, 
the United States has made significant progress in expanding rights, 
services, and support for crime victims. However, as this resolution 
appropriately acknowledges, there is still work to be done.
  Crime victims in underserved and low-income communities often do not 
have access to the support and services needed to help them move past 
their traumatic event and achieve normalcy in their lives. Access to 
services for crime victims should be available in every community 
across the country. Observing the rights of all victims is not only a 
fundamental requirement of a just society, but also serves the public 
interest by engaging victims in the justice system, inspiring respect 
for public authorities, and promoting confidence in public safety.
  Additionally, every year, thousands of crimes go unreported to law 
enforcement. However, the victims of an unreported crime are no less 
deserving or in need of professional support than those of reported 
crimes. We must ensure that victims off all crimes--reported or 
unreported--have equal access to services. Our communities, 
neighborhoods, and homes are made stronger, safer, and healthier by 
guaranteeing that all crime victims are treated with dignity, respect, 
and fairness.
  Mr. Speaker, victims of crime suffer traumatic experiences that alter 
their lives and those of their family members. A just society 
acknowledges that crime victims have unique needs and provides the 
proper support services. National Crime Victims' Rights Week reminds us 
of this important obligation.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 1104.
  Mr. COHEN. I ask that all of my colleagues join me in supporting this 
resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cohen) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1104.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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