CRIME VICTIMS FUND STABILIZATION ACT OF 2025

On 2026-01-12, Representative Derek Schmidt (R-KS-2) delivered a floor speech titled "CRIME VICTIMS FUND STABILIZATION ACT OF 2025" in the House. The speech addressed the economy and also covered the environment, defense. It referenced legislation: HR909.

CRIME VICTIMS FUND STABILIZATION ACT OF 2025

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 8 (Monday, January 12, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 8 (Monday, January 12, 2026)] [House] [Pages H623-H626] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] CRIME VICTIMS FUND STABILIZATION ACT OF 2025 Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 909) to temporarily provide additional deposits into the Crime Victims Fund, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 909 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2025''. SEC. 2. DEPOSITS IN CRIME VICTIMS FUND. Section 1402(b)(6) of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (34 U.S.C. 20101(b)(6)) is amended-- (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``or'' at the end; (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; or''; and (3) by adding at the end the following: ``(C) beginning on the date of enactment of the Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2025 through fiscal year 2029, sections 3729 through 3731 of title 31, United States Code (commonly known as the `False Claims Act'), provided that-- ``(i) amounts necessary to remunerate qui tam plaintiffs as described in subsection (d) of section 3730 of title 31, United States Code, are not available for deposit to the Fund; and ``(ii) amounts necessary to reimburse the United States Government for the damages which the Government sustains from acts described in subsection (a) of section 3729 of title 31, United States Code, are not available for deposit to the Fund.''. SEC. 3. INSPECTOR GENERAL AUDIT. Not later than September 30, 2028, the Inspector General of the Department of Justice shall submit to the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives, the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate, the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate a report containing an audit of the Crime Victims Fund, as established by section 1402 of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (34 U.S.C. 20101). Such audit shall include-- (1) information relating to the sustainability of deposits into the Crime Victims Fund; (2) the effect of the VOCA Fix to Sustain the Crime Victims Fund Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-27) on the balance of the Crime Victims Fund, the long-term stability of the Crime Victims Fund, and the use of funds obligated out of the Crime Victims Fund; (3) the effect of the Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2025 on the balance of the Crime Victims Fund, the long- term stability of the Crime Victims Fund, and the use of funds obligated out of the Crime Victims Fund; (4) legislative recommendations for improving the effectiveness of the Crime Victims Fund; (5) administrative or management recommendations for improving the oversight and administration of the Crime Victims Fund; and (6) the methodology used to conduct the audit to include-- (A) the data sources relied upon; (B) any limitations realized during the audit; and (C) the criteria applied in evaluating the long-term stability of the Crime Victims Fund. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Wagner) and the gentlewoman from Georgia (Mrs. McBath) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Missouri. General Leave Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman from Missouri? There was no objection. Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am beyond proud to rise in support of my bill H.R. 909, the Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act. This bipartisan legislation will provide critical support to over 7 million crime victims throughout every State in this country, without spending a single taxpayer dollar. Mr. Speaker, across the United States, domestic violence shelters, [[Page H624]] rape crisis centers, and child advocacy centers are in dire need of support. These organizations serve the most vulnerable in our society: battered spouses, rape survivors, and children, even toddlers who have been sexually abused and exploited. As elected officials, it is our duty to ensure these victims receive the support, care, and, equally important, the justice they deserve. Tragically, over the past 8 years, across multiple administrations, the balance of the Crime Victims Fund, or CVF, has plummeted, jeopardizing Federal support for these victims. This fund does not use taxpayer dollars. It is solely financed by the fines, settlements, and other monetary penalties collected from Federal criminal prosecutions. From 2017 to 2023, the balance of CVF dropped by over 92 percent. It was almost completely wiped out. Congress attempted to correct this decline in 2021 with the bipartisan VOCA Fix to Sustain the Crime Victims Fund Act, but Federal resources are still not meeting the needs of victims in our Nation. Child advocacy centers and domestic violence shelters have been forced to triage their services or, even worse, to close entirely. In 2024, my home State of Missouri saw a $10 million cut, over 40 percent, Mr. Speaker, of its Federal support for victims of violent crime, gone. This is unacceptable. Mr. Speaker, I got to work, and over the past 2 years, I have worked with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, with law enforcement, with prosecutors, and with victim advocacy groups to craft this legislation and build an overwhelming coalition of support. Today, with 327 bipartisan cosponsors, this bill, the Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act, will be the most widely supported piece of legislation considered on the House floor so far this Congress. I would like to emphasize that for just a second. With 327 bipartisan cosponsors, this bill is the most widely supported piece of legislation to receive a vote in Congress. {time} 1520 My bill uses nontaxpayer dollars to ensure vital programs can survive and victims receive the assistance necessary to heal, recover, and help law enforcement hold offenders accountable. For years, the CVF had been financed by criminal monetary penalties, but those resources are no longer sufficient. With my bill, the CVF will also receive, through fiscal year 2029, the unobligated civil penalties collected through antifraud law. One of the most prominent Federal antifraud laws is the False Claims Act. The False Claims Act allows the Federal Government to sue entities that defraud government programs and seek up to three times the damages. For example, if an entity defrauds the Federal Government out of $1 million, the government can sue that entity for up to $3 million. If the government wins, $1 million is returned to the defrauded agency, up to 30 percent is rewarded to any relevant whistleblower, when necessary, and the remaining leftover funds are unobligated. The Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act only redirects these leftover, unobligated funds to the CVF. We include specific protections for government reimbursement and whistleblower rewards. Those dollars remain untouched. This bill simply ensures that the surplus damages collected from those found liable for fraud in Federal court are used to support victims of crime. This temporary infusion of resources will stabilize the CVF, support both victims and law enforcement investigations, while also retaining the fund's original intent of being financed by the legal fines from bad actors, not tax dollars. This commonsense legislation must pass Congress as quickly as possible because every day that we wait, victims of the most horrific crimes across our country are left in need. I urge all of my colleagues in both Chambers to support this bill, and, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mrs. McBATH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Wagner) so much for this piece of legislation. I thank her for all the really good hard work that she has done in rallying the troops to do the right thing. I thank her very much for taking care of our victims and making sure they have these provisions. I, too, have been a victim, so I thank her personally. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 909, the Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2025. Established by the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 to provide funding for State victim compensation and assistance programs, the Crime Victims Fund does not rely on taxpayer dollars. Instead, it is funded by fines, monetary penalties, and assessments paid by convicted Federal defendants, as well as forfeited bail bonds and other gifts and donations. For four decades, the Crime Victims Fund has been a lifeline, providing money through grants to States, local governments, individuals, and other entities. It supports rape crisis centers, domestic violence shelters, child advocacy programs, and services for survivors like me of homicide, assault, and human trafficking in every State and in every territory. It pays for counseling, emergency shelters, legal aid, and lost wages. In short, the Crime Victims Fund is the bedrock of our Nation's promise to help victims rebuild their lives, serving nearly 4 million victims of crime every year. That is a staggering number, so I want to say it again: 4 million victims of crime every year. Over the last decade, the fund has faced a severe and sustained crisis. Stemming from changes in prosecution practices, revenues have plummeted. Meanwhile, the needs of victims have only grown. In recent years, we have witnessed the emergence of a devastating cycle. Annual distributions to States f

Referenced legislation: HR909, HR909