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117-hr-1652117th Congress

VOCA Fix to Sustain the Crime Victims Fund Act of 2021

Sponsored By: Representative Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12]

Became Law

Summary

Stabilizes and expands support for crime victims by boosting funding and raising compensation levels. The law directs new settlement money into the Crime Victims Fund and increases the share paid to victims.

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  • Victims and families: Payouts go up. The law raises the compensation share to 75% of eligible costs and stops programs from deducting collections from restitution or subrogation when calculating awards.
  • Victim compensation programs: More funding sources and clearer rules. Deferred prosecution and non-prosecution agreement payments may be deposited into the Crime Victims Fund and "recovery costs" are redefined to cover personnel expenses tied to collection efforts.
  • Chief executives and emergency response: States get more flexibility. Chief executives may waive required matching contributions if they publish waiver policies, and they must waive matching in full for eligible programs during a pandemic national emergency from the declaration date until one year after the emergency ends.

*Requires Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) scoring and public reporting of the law's budgetary effects.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

More money for crime victims' compensation

The law sends more money into the Crime Victims Fund. Money from deferred or non‑prosecution agreements now goes into the fund. 75% of the fund goes to victim compensation programs. The Attorney General can grant renewals or extensions. These changes take effect upon enactment.

States can waive match for programs

State chief executives can waive matching fund rules for victim assistance grants. They must report approvals and post public waiver rules. During a pandemic national emergency, they must fully waive all matches for programs under contract then. The pandemic waiver lasts until one year after the emergency ends.

Easier access to victim compensation

Programs no longer subtract recovery costs or collections when reporting last year’s awards. Recovery costs means staff time to collect restitution or civil payments. Programs can excuse cooperation when age, health, mental state, language, or safety concerns make it hard. These changes apply upon enactment.

How this law is scored for PAYGO

For Pay‑As‑You‑Go rules, the law uses the House Budget Committee statement printed before the vote. This sets how budget effects are recorded. It is an accounting rule and takes effect upon enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12]

NY • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 3/8/2021

  • Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 3/8/2021

  • Rep. Wagner, Ann [R-MO-2]

    MO • R

    Sponsored 3/8/2021

  • Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 3/8/2021

  • Rep. McMorris Rodgers, Cathy [R-WA-5]

    WA • R

    Sponsored 3/8/2021

  • Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 3/8/2021

  • Rep. Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2]

    MI • R

    Sponsored 3/8/2021

  • Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]

    WI • D

    Sponsored 3/8/2021

  • Rep. Axne, Cynthia [D-IA-3]

    IA • D

    Sponsored 3/8/2021

  • Rep. Ryan, Tim [D-OH-13]

    OH • D

    Sponsored 3/8/2021

  • Rep. Kuster, Ann M. [D-NH-2]

    NH • D

    Sponsored 3/8/2021

  • Rep. Langevin, James R. [D-RI-2]

    RI • D

    Sponsored 3/8/2021

  • Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]

    NV • D

    Sponsored 3/8/2021

  • Rep. Speier, Jackie [D-CA-14]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/8/2021

  • Rep. Wexton, Jennifer [D-VA-10]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 3/8/2021

  • Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 3/8/2021

  • Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 3/8/2021

  • Rep. Feenstra, Randy [R-IA-4]

    IA • R

    Sponsored 3/8/2021

  • Rep. Katko, John [R-NY-24]

    NY • R

    Sponsored 3/9/2021

  • Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24]

    NY • R

    Sponsored 3/9/2021

  • Rep. Hinson, Ashley [R-IA-2]

    IA • R

    Sponsored 3/9/2021

  • Del. Sablan, Gregorio Kilili Camacho [D-MP-At Large]

    MP • D

    Sponsored 3/9/2021

  • Del. San Nicolas, Michael F. Q. [D-GU-At Large]

    GU • D

    Sponsored 3/9/2021

  • Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]

    NC • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2021

  • Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2021

  • Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1]

    HI • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2021

  • Rep. Hartzler, Vicky [R-MO-4]

    MO • R

    Sponsored 3/16/2021

  • Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4]

    UT • R

    Sponsored 3/16/2021

  • Rep. Phillips, Dean [D-MN-3]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 3/16/2021

  • Rep. Granger, Kay [R-TX-12]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 3/16/2021

  • Rep. Brown, Anthony G. [D-MD-4]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 3/16/2021

  • Rep. Gonzalez, Anthony [R-OH-16]

    OH • R

    Sponsored 3/16/2021

  • Rep. Taylor, Van [R-TX-3]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 3/16/2021

  • Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]

    CO • D

    Sponsored 3/16/2021

  • Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 3/16/2021

  • Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1]

    RI • D

    Sponsored 3/16/2021

  • Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/16/2021

  • Resident Commissioner González-Colón, Jenniffer [R-PR-At Large]

    PR • R

    Sponsored 3/16/2021

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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