VOCA Funding Progress. . .

IMPORTANT VOCA NEWS

On Thursday, June 24, 2009, Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Mike Crapo (R-ID) introduced the "Crime Victims Fund Preservation Act of 2009" which would ensure a continued and substantial increase the the amount of Crime Victims Fund to be made available to support critical crime victim services.  The Crime Victims Fund Preservation Act would establish a minimum VOCA cap through 2014 and still leave a substantial balance in the Fund to ensure ongoing stable services.

S. 1340 [read] specifies the minimum amount of the Crime Victims Fund to be allocated in FY 2010 at $705 million and then increases the cap by 23 percent for each of the next four years. 

According to Sen. Leahy, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, "This bill will support the intent of Congress to use revenues generated from criminal fines and forfeitures to provide direct services and compensation to crime victims,” [Read Sen. Leahy press release and statement.] 

Sen. Crapo said, "“We expect a steady increase over the next five years in this fund and I will aggressively work to make sure these resources go to the people for which they were originally intended. Unfortunately, victims of violence nationwide remain significantly underserved. Congress needs to honor the commitment it made to these victims 25 years ago.”[Read Sen. Crapo press release.]

In a related step, the Senate Appropriations Committee has recommended the FY 2010 VOCA cap to be at $705 million, a $70 million increase over the FY 2009 cap.  The House's bill recommends a $700 million VOCA cap for FY 2010, the amount requested by the Administration.
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For NAVAA and NACVCB Members Only. . .

The 2009 VOCA National Training Conference will be held September 30 - October 2, 2009 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC. We hope to make this joint conference a special occasion to commemorate of the 25th anniversary of the enactment of the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA). 

Click here for Conference information, including registration and hotel reservations.