Day of Action 6/8 VOCA Fix to Sustain the Crime Victims Fund Act of 2021 

June 7, 2021 |
Valor

VALOR recognizes the solemn responsibility to consistently advocate specifically for survivors of sexual assault and rape crisis centers, and to make sure that their voices are not lost within a broader conversation about gender-based violence.  

On March 17, the House of Representatives passed the VOCA Fix to Sustain the Crime Victims Fund Act of 2021 (“the VOCA Fix Act”) with overwhelming bipartisan support. This critical legislation will prevent devastating cuts to federal funding for victim service programs through the Victims of Crime Act (“VOCA”). However, we have yet to see movement in the Senate.

Federal grants to victim services through the Victims of Crime Act have been cut by two-thirds in the last four years. Congress can fix this by ensuring federal financial penalties from deferred prosecution and non-prosecution agreements are treated the same way as penalties resulting from criminal convictions – that they go to serve and compensate crime victims.

It has been two-and-a-half months since the VOCA Fix Act passed the House and action is needed. 

On June 8, call and/or email  Senate Majority Leader Schumer and Senate Minority Leader McConnell and tell them to prioritize victims and bring the House-passed VOCA Fix Act with no amendments to the floor for a vote immediately. Victims have already missed out on approximately $500 million this year, and every day the Senate delays is a day that victims lose out on money.

  • Senate Majority Leader Schumer’s office number is (202) 224-6542. If the line is busy, you can call one of his in-state offices. Click here to email him.
  • Senate Minority Leader McConnell’s office number is (202) 224-2541. If the line is busy, you can call one of his in-state offices. Click here to email him.
  • A toolkit with a phone scripts and email templates can be found here.

In addition to contacting Majority Leader Schumer and Minority Leader McConnell directly, join the Twitter storm Tuesday, June 8 from 11:00 -12:00 PT/ 2:00 – 3:00 ET. Find graphics and sample tweets in the toolkit. The hashtags are #VOCAFix and #Crisis4Victims. Twitter handles are @SenSchumer and @LeaderMcConnell. 

VALOR will always be a voice for survivors and rape crisis centers wherever we go, and leading the nation from California will continue to be a strategy of which we are deeply proud.

Questions? Contact John L. Finley, Policy Manager at policy@valor.us

Downloadable Graphics