On March 17, the House of Representatives passed the VOCA Fix to Sustain the Crime Victims Fund Act of 2021 (“the VOCA Fix Act”) with overwhelming bipartisan support. This critical legislation will prevent devastating cuts to federal funding for victim service programs through the Victims of Crime Act (“VOCA”). However, we have yet to see movement on the Senate companion bill, S.611.
The situation is dire! Federal grants to victim services through the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) have been cut by two-thirds in the last four years. Congress can fix this by ensuring federal financial penalties from deferred prosecution and non-prosecution agreements are treated the same way as penalties resulting from criminal convictions – that they go to serve and compensate crime victims.
It is time for the SENATE TO ACT!
Call or email your Senators and urge them to sponsor and pass S.611, the bipartisan, bicameral VOCA Fix Act. Call the US Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.
Senators to Contact
– Alabama Senator Richard Shelby (R)
– 304 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510
– (202) 224-5744
– Social media: Facebook @RichardShelby, Twitter @SenShelby, Instagram @senatorshelby
– Website shelby.senate.gov
– Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville (R)
– 142 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington DC 20510
– (202) 224-4124
– Social media: Facebook @SenatorTuberville, Twitter @SenTuberville, Instagram @sentuberville
– Website tuberville.senate.gov
– Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D – NY)
– 322 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington DC 20510
– (202) 224-6542
– Social media: Facebook @senschumer, Twitter @SenSchumer, Instagram @senschumer
– Website schumer.senate.gov
– Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R – KY)
– 317 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington DC 20510
– (202) 224-2541
– Social media: Facebook @mitchmcconnell, Twitter @McConnellPress, Instagram @mcconnellpress
– Website mcconnell.senate.gov
Currently, these Senators are not sponsors of the VOCA Fix Act. In addition to contacting them directly, join the Twitter storm on Tuesday, June 8 from 1:00 – 2:00 CT. The hashtags are #VOCAFix and #Crisis4Victims.
Sample Tweets:
[@Senator] Lifesaving services for victims are on the line. There is a #Crisis4Victims. Sponsor S.611, the #VOCAFix Act ASAP! The House passed their bill – it’s your turn! https://tinyurl.com/23drue5v
[@Senator] Don’t let VOCA go over the cliff. Pass H.R.1652/S.611, the #VOCAFix Act. #Crisis4Victims +1,700 victims rights orgs +56 Attorneys General & national orgs have asked for this fix https://tinyurl.com/23drue5v.
[@Senator] & [@Senator] The #VOCAFix passed the House with more than 90% of votes. It’s time for the Senate to address the #Crisis4Victims by passing the House-passed bill with no amendments. https://tinyurl.com/23drue5v
[@Senator] & [@Senator] The #VOCAFix passed the House with a huge majority & there’s a #Crisis4Victims. Bring the House-passed bill with no amendments to the floor for a vote right away! https://tinyurl.com/23drue5v
Letters of Support:
On social media, you can link to the national stakeholder letter in support of the VOCA Fix using this shortened url: https://tinyurl.com/23drue5v The national stakeholder letter above signed by more than 1,700 victim rights organizations and government agencies also links to another letter by all 56 Attorneys General (https://dojmt.gov/wp-content/uploads/VOCA-Amendments-NAAG-Final-.pdf).
You can also submit an op-ed or a letter to the editor to your local newspaper to put very public pressure on those Senators who are not yet cosponsors of S.611. Templates can be found in the toolkit at https://tinyurl.com/2bcy259v. If you get an op-ed or letter to the editor published, please let us know so we can highlight it!
We need your help to get the VOCA Fix Act across the finish line!