Congress is finalizing its year-end funding bill right now, and it must include important provisions to prevent catastrophic cuts to Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grants.
Due to record low deposits of criminal fines and fees into the Fund, VOCA’s non-taxpayer funded Crime Victims Fund is running out of money. This leads to VOCA grants being cut every year. Congress can prevent this by passing the ‘deposits fix’ before the end of the year to redirect money from criminal settlements into the Crime Victims Fund (more on the problem and the solution can be found here). Victim assistance grants may be cut as much as 81%compared to three years ago if Congress doesn’t act now.
To get the deposits fix over the finish line, we urgently need House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s help today and tomorrow.
Please call Leader McCarthy’s office at 202-225-2915 or his District office at 661-327-3611. Use the script below (developed by the National Children’s Alliance) to tell him that this is a crisis and we need him to be a champion for survivors!
“My name is [your name], and I am calling from [your location and, if applicable, your program]. Critical victim services, including services for victims of child abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, drunk driving, and other crimes are facing catastrophic cuts due to record low deposits into the Crime Victims Fund. On behalf of victims and the programs that serve them around the nation, I am calling to ask Leader McCarthy to be a champion for victims and to prevent an 81% cut to VOCA grants by passing the VOCA deposits fix before the end of the year.”
Then, after making your phone call, tweet him at @GOPLeader, using the following message :
@GOPLeader Lifesaving services for victims are on the line. There is a #Crisis4Victims. Congress, pass the #VOCAFix BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR! https://bit.ly/3op06Rq
Then, pass this message to your contacts as appropriate.
Domestic violence and other violent crimes are on the rise here in Nashville and nationwide If we work now, we can prevent another round of potentially devastating cuts to VOCA funds right when the program is needed the most. VOCA can be a part of our nation’s economic and spiritual recovery. We encourage you to contact Leader McCarthy today.