Bill Text: MI SR0111 | 2017-2018 | 99th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: A resolution to urge the United States Congress to ensure appropriate funding for the Victims of Crime Act, Violence Against Women Act, and similar programs.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-11-28 - Referred To Committee On Government Operations [SR0111 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2017-SR0111-Introduced.html
Senators Knezek, Warren, Hopgood, Hertel, Ananich, Bieda, Johnson, Gregory, Young and Hood offered the following resolution:
Senate Resolution No. 111.
A resolution to urge the United States Congress to ensure appropriate funding for the Victims of Crime Act, Violence Against Women Act, and similar programs.
Whereas, Protecting public health and safety is one of government's most important functions. While crime prevention and prosecution are vital components of that role, assisting crime victims in the recovery process is also critical; and
Whereas, The Crime Victims Fund, established by the federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), is the main source of federal assistance for millions of crime victims across the country. Victims of assault, domestic violence, sexual abuse, and other violent crimes rely on the fund to help them recover through direct compensation and support for organizations that provide counseling, crisis intervention, and temporary housing; and
Whereas, One of the central ways in which Crime Victims Fund dollars reach crime victims is through grants to local providers based on allocations to the states. In 2016, programs in Michigan received $67 million in grants to help crime victims; and
Whereas, The Crime Victims Fund has been a target during recent federal budget fights despite being funded entirely by criminal fines and penalties rather than tax dollars. In recent years, Congress has permanently transferred money out of the fund and allocated money from the fund to programs not specifically authorized by law, such as programs provided for in the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA); and
Whereas, The Trump Administration has recommended removing $1.3 billion from the Crime Victims Fund and reallocating an additional $600 billion to related programs that are supposed to be funded separately; and
Whereas, Establishing a precedent that the Crime Victims Fund can be raided to cover other priorities is a threat to the public health and safety of Michigan and the United States. The fund must be protected, and programs authorized under related acts, such as VAWA, need their own sustainable revenue source; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate, That we urge the United States Congress to ensure appropriate funding for the Victims of Crime Act, Violence Against Women Act, and similar programs; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.
