# 118-s-3706: Victims' VOICES Act

118-s-3706, Victims' VOICES Act, is a 118th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX] (R-TX); status became_law (as of 2026-01-05).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/118-s-3706
- As of: 2026-01-05
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 118-s-3706
- Congress: 118
- Title: Victims' VOICES Act
- Status: became_law
- Introduced: 2024-01-31
- Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX] (R-TX)
- Cosponsors: 3
- Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-01-05

## Summary

**The Victims' VOICES Act clarifies that courts must order restitution to people who assume a victim's rights for necessary and reasonable expenses tied to participating in or attending criminal investigations, prosecutions, and related proceedings.** It specifies categories of reimbursable costs, like lost income, child care, transportation, medical and mental health care, and physical and occupational therapy. - People who assume a victim's rights can recover necessary and reasonable expenses for participating in or attending investigations, prosecutions, and proceedings, including lost income and child care. - Those who transport victims for necessary medical, psychiatric, psychological, or nonmedical care recognized by the law of the place of treatment, or for physical and occupational therapy, can be reimbursed for transportation and related costs. - Courts will apply this clarification within the existing restitution process and must award restitution to the person who assumed the victim's rights.

## Cosponsors (3)

- Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] (D-CT), 2024-01-31T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN] (R-TN), 2024-01-31T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI] (D-RI), 2024-01-31T00:00:00.000Z

## Votes

| Date | Chamber | Question | Result | Yea | Nay |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2024-07-23T00:00:00.000Z | house | On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass | Passed | 408 | 2 |

## Provisions PRIA read

- Reimbursement for victim-rights representatives' costs: benefit, medium. If you have legally assumed a victim’s rights, the court must order restitution to reimburse your necessary and reasonable costs. Covered costs include lost income, child care, transportation, and other expenses tied to taking part in the case or attending hearings. It also covers your lost income…

## Related bills

- 118-s-91: Forgotten Heroes of the Holocaust Congressional Gold Medal Act
- 118-sres-925: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Fred R. Harris, former Senator for the State of Oklahoma.
- 118-sres-902: A resolution relating to the death of Timothy Peter Johnson, former Senator for the State of South Dakota.
- 118-sres-888: A resolution honoring the life of James Ralph Sasser, former Senator for the State of Tennessee.
- 118-sres-800: A resolution condemning the attempted assassination of former President Donald J. Trump during a political rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, honoring the victims…
- 118-sres-765: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable James Mountain Inhofe, former Senator for the State of Oklahoma.

## Sources
- [118-s-3706 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/3706)

## Related
- [118-s-91: Forgotten Heroes of the Holocaust Congressional Gold Medal Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/118-s-91)
- [118-sres-925: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Fred R. Harris, former Sena…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/118-sres-925)
- [118-sres-902: A resolution relating to the death of Timothy Peter Johnson, former Senator for…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/118-sres-902)
- [118-sres-888: A resolution honoring the life of James Ralph Sasser, former Senator for the St…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/118-sres-888)
- [118-sres-800: A resolution condemning the attempted assassination of former President Donald…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/118-sres-800)
- [118-sres-765: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable James Mountain Inhofe, form…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/118-sres-765)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/118-s-3706 (as of 2026-01-05).