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S285119th Congress

Fairness for Crime Victims Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Senator Lankford, James [R-OK]

Introduced

Summary

Protects the Crime Victims Fund from budget moves that would cut money available for victim services below a recent three-year average. This bill would add a new point of order to the Congressional Budget Act to block mandatory-program changes that divert CVF resources and to set how that average is calculated and enforced.

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  • Families and victims: Would lock in a floor for annual CVF funding tied to a three-year average, addressing a history of withheld funds that totaled more than $10 billion and a period when only 30% of about $12 billion collected in 2010–2014 was disbursed.
  • Congress and appropriators: Would create a new point of order against CHIMPs (changes in mandatory programs) that would reduce CVF availability below the three-year average. It includes a $2.0 billion safe-harbor threshold and a requirement that a three-fifths majority overturn appeals of CHIMP rulings.
  • Floor and conference rules: If a provision is found to be a CHIMP that cuts CVF below the average, the offending language may be stricken and may not be offered as a floor amendment. The Senate Budget Committee chair sets the budgetary levels used in the calculation.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Protect Crime Victims Fund

This bill would create a new rule blocking budget changes (called CHIMPs) that would cut the Crime Victims Fund below a defined 3-year average. The rule would apply in both the House and the Senate to appropriations bills, amendments, and conference reports. The bill would define CHIMP and the 3-year average used for the test. It would also let CHIMPs that change Fund availability by $2 billion or less avoid the point of order.

Senate strike rule and waiver

This bill would let the Senate strike CHIMP language from measures if a point of order is sustained. Struck material could not be offered again as a floor amendment. If language is stricken from a conference report, the Senate could only act on the unstricken parts. The Senate would need a three-fifths vote to waive the rule or overturn the Chair's ruling.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Lankford, James [R-OK]

OK • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]

    ID • R

    Sponsored 1/28/2025

  • Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID]

    ID • R

    Sponsored 1/28/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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