Durbin, Murkowski Reintroduce Legislation To Bolster Crime Fund

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) reintroduced theCrime Victims Fund Stabilization Act. The bill bolsters the Crime Victims Fund (CVF), established by theVictims of Crime Act(VOCA) of 1984, which supports state victim compensation and assistance programs. The legislation would transfer residual funds collected through theFalse Claims Act(FCA), which are currently directed to the General Fund of the U.S. Treasury, to the CVF.
“The Crime Victims Fund is a lifeline for survivors and their families. The state programs supported by this fund provide a chance for victims to recover and rebuild their lives, whether it be through compensating the cost of medical and mental health expenses or providing access to emergency shelter. With this bill, we have a straightforward, bipartisan solution that will help strengthen the Crime Victims Fund. I look forward to working with Senator Murkowski to advance this legislation,”said Durbin.
“Victim service organizations are facing dire financial situations due to decreasing deposits into the CVF. This fund has an integral role in funding service organizations that provide immediate and long-term support to survivors,”said Murkowski.“It is essential that we pursue any and all solutions to ensure that shelters, counseling and other social services are able to provide quality, consistent care for those in need.”
Durbin has long been a fierce advocate for victims’ rights.  In March 2022, Congress enacted theViolence Against Women Act (VAWA) Reauthorization Act—led by Durbin and U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).  For 30 years, VAWA has transformed the way we address domestic and sexual violence in America and saved countless lives. The same month as VAWA’s reauthorization, then-President Biden signed into law the bipartisanEnding Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act, sponsored by Durbin and U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC).
In 2021, Durbin worked with his colleagues to strengthen theVictims of Crime Act(VOCA) by leading theVOCA Fix to Sustain the Crime Victims Fund Act. This legislation redirects monetary penalties from federal deferred prosecution and non-prosecution agreements into the Crime Victims Fund (CVF) to increase funding for state victim compensation and assistance programs.
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