[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Pages 6232-6233]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS' RIGHTS WEEK

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, this week we celebrate the 30th annual 
National Crime Victims' Rights Week, and the 30th anniversary of the 
passage of the Victims of Crime Act. It is a time to recognize the 
losses faced by victims of crime and their families, and to acknowledge 
the efforts of those who work so hard to ensure the protection and 
well-being of crime victims in Vermont and across the nation. It is 
also a time to reflect on all that we have accomplished together over 
the past three decades, and to focus on what more we must do to support 
and protect victims of crime. I have long supported victims of crime 
through the Victims of Crime Act, and I was proud to cosponsor the 
Senate resolution supporting the mission and goals of National Crime 
Victims' Rights Week 2014.
  One of our most effective tools to serve and support victims is the 
Crime Victims Fund. In 1984, the Senate voted to pass the Victims of 
Crime Act--VOCA--which created the Fund. The Fund is rightfully 
sustained by criminal fines and penalties, not by taxpayer dollars, and 
provides funding and support for victim services across the country. 
These services include funding for victim assistance, and compensation 
programs to help with medical, funeral, and burial costs, mental health 
counseling, and lost wages.
  In 1996, after the Oklahoma City bombing, I supported the creation of 
an Antiterrorism Emergency Reserve Fund to support communities in the 
wake of acts of mass violence. These funds provide emergency relief and 
assistance in the wake of tragedies that might otherwise overwhelm the 
resources of the State's crime victim compensation and victim 
assistance services. That Emergency Reserve Fund has been used to 
support communities in the aftermath of shootings at Virginia Tech, 
Aurora, and Newtown, and most recently to cover longer term victim 
assistance for the marathon bombing victims in Boston. The Office of 
Victims of Crime also provides funding directly to other federal 
agencies to support assistance to victims of mass violence and 
terrorism, including the Department of the Army following the 2011 Fort 
Hood shooting.
  The Crime Victims Fund has a long history of supporting victims of 
crime. I am grateful that in the Fiscal Year 2014 Omnibus 
Appropriations Bill, we were able to raise the cap on the Fund by $15 
million. This is a historic and hard-won achievement that translates to 
more money for victims' assistance grants. Yet despite the increase, 
support for direct victim assistance remains 13 percent behind where 
funding levels were 15 years ago. As a result, 1.3 million fewer 
victims today are receiving help funded under VOCA. It is clear that 
more work remains to be done on behalf of victims of crime.
  This year, I led a letter with Senator Crapo requesting that the 
Senate Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, 
Science and Related Agencies set the cap on obligations from the Fund 
as high as possible. As States are forced to tighten their belts, 
victim services are being cut all over the country. Without Federal 
assistance from this trust fund, victims' compensation programs and 
victims' assistance programs and services would be unavailable to many.
  I am also proud to be the lead sponsor of the Justice for All 
Reauthorization Act, which is another important measure that 
strengthens crime victims' rights and improves crime victims' services. 
This bipartisan bill was voted out of the Senate Judiciary Committee in 
October 2013 and every Democratic Senator has cleared this bill for 
immediate passage by the Senate. This is a strong, comprehensive bill 
that has the support of many Senators, including Senators Cornyn and 
McConnell. There is no reason that this important bill should not be 
passed as soon as possible.
  This legislation reauthorizes the original Justice for All Act of 
2004. The programs created by the Justice for All Act have had an 
enormous impact, and it is crucial that we reauthorize them. This 
legislation strengthens key rights for crime victims, reauthorizes the 
Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant Program, includes provisions to improve 
the quality of indigent defense, and increases access to post-
conviction DNA testing to protect the innocent. It strengthens the 
rights guaranteed to crime victims in the criminal justice process and 
ensures that basic services, like the rapid testing of rape kits, help 
victims receive the justice, safety and closure they deserve. This 
legislation also increases authorized funding for the Paul Coverdell 
Forensic Science Improvement Grant Program. This vital program assists 
forensic laboratories in performing the many forensic tests that are 
essential to solving crimes and prosecuting those who commit those 
crimes so that victims have peace of mind knowing that justice will be 
served. I urge my fellow senators to support the passage of this vital 
legislation.
  I was also extremely proud when the Leahy-Crapo Violence Against 
Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 was signed into law last year by 
President Obama. This is legislation, which I introduced with Senator 
Crapo, reauthorized the critical Violence Against Women Act, or VAWA. 
When we enacted VAWA 20 years ago, it sent a powerful message that we 
will not tolerate crimes against women, and the law forever altered the 
way our Nation combats domestic and sexual violence. Just as it did 
nearly 20 years ago, this reauthorization offers support to the victims 
of these terrible crimes and helps them find safety and rebuild their 
lives. It was crafted with a great deal of input

[[Page 6233]]

from victims and the tireless professionals who work to support them 
every day, and I am grateful for their support and assistance.
  The VAWA reauthorization takes responsible and moderate steps, in 
this case to protect immigrant and Native women, and ensuring services 
to all victims, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. 
This legislation also includes new protections to prevent stalking and 
campus assault. It is particularly fitting to talk about this in April, 
which is also Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month.
  I am glad that the Senate was able to quickly move on this bipartisan 
bill and ensure it was passed in a timely manner. The reauthorization 
of VAWA was approved by the Senate by an overwhelming vote of 78-22. 
This is an issue that has and should continue to transcend 
partisanship, and we did just that last year when an overwhelming 
majority of the Senate voted in favor of VAWA. I hope we can continue 
to work together to support women's and victims' rights in the future.
  This includes supporting the Criminal Justice and Forensic Science 
Reform Act, another bipartisan bill that I introduced in March. This 
legislation represents a comprehensive and commonsense approach toward 
guaranteeing the effectiveness and scientific integrity of forensic 
evidence used in criminal cases. It is critical that Americans have 
faith in their criminal justice system, and this legislation aims to 
achieve that by promoting national accreditation and certification 
standards and stronger oversight for forensic labs and practitioners. 
The Criminal Justice and Forensic Science Reform Act ensures that 
reform efforts will be guided by experts and practitioners with both 
criminal justice expertise and scientific independence, and it 
establishes consistent standards in the forensic science disciplines. I 
am glad to be working with Senator Cornyn on this important effort.
  I have always supported and will continue to support victims' rights. 
As we recognize the horrific losses victims of crimes have endured, it 
is important that we work towards lessening the effects of these 
tragedies and help victims can recover and rebuild. I look forward to 
working with my fellow Senators on both sides of the aisle to ensure 
that crime victims are never forgotten, and that they have our strong 
and enduring support.

                          ____________________