Cornyn-Backed Bill to Replenish Crime Victims Funding Passes Senate

I recently spoke in support of the VOCA Fix Act to replenish funding for Victims of Crimes Act (VOCA) grants which provide critical support to victim services providers. Excerpts of my interview are below, and video can be found here.

For more than four decades, the Crime Victims Fund has provided critical funding for survivors, victims, and their families. In Texas and across the country, this funding provides lifesaving support and services for survivors.

One of the most remarkable things about the Crime Victims Fund is that none of it comes from taxpayers. It's all covered by criminal fines and penalties. The only downside of this funding stream is that it comes with a fair amount of uncertainty. There's no guaranteed amount that will be deposited into the fund each year, and recent years have brought far less money that is needed by the demand.

It's time to address these shortfalls in the Crime Victims Fund and safeguard critical resources for victims and survivors. I've been proud to work on a bipartisan basis with Senator Graham, Senator Durbin, and a long list of colleagues to restore this critical funding through the VOCA Fix to sustain the Crime Victims Fund Act. This legislation brings critical new funding sources to the Crime Victims Fund without asking the American taxpayer to do more.

The Crime Victims Fund brings justice to survivors, and victims, and families in the wake of serious trauma. This legislation will protect the solvency and the longevity of that fund and reverse the devastating funding cuts we've seen in recent years.

I am a co-sponsor of VOCA Fix Act and have been a long-time advocate of VOCA and its funding to ensure stability for victim service providers which support victims, survivors and their families. These federal grants support shelters that provide refuge to victims of domestic violence, enables critical programming at rape crisis centers and legal services at Child Advocacy Centers. With unanimous passage out of the Senate today, the legislation moves to President Biden’s desk for final consideration.