2021: Fitzpatrick Voted To Direct The Justice Department Crime Victims
Fund To Expand And Include Funds From Deferred Prosecution And
Non-Prosecution Agreements. In March 2021, Fitzpatrick voted for the
VOCA Fix to Sustain the Crime Victims Fund Act of 2021 which would,
according to Congressional Quarterly, "expand funding sources for the
Justice Department Crime Victims Fund to include funds from deferred
prosecution agreements and non-prosecution agreements." The vote was on
passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 384-38, sent to the
Senate and President, and ultimately became law. [House Vote 89,
3/17/21; Congressional
Quarterly, 3/17/21;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
1652]
As Funds From Criminal Cases Have Decreased, H.R. 1652 Moved Money
From Out-Of-Court Settlements Into The Crime Victims Fund.
According to Congressional Quarterly, "money from criminal cases has
been on the decline in recent years, as out-of-court settlements
become increasingly common. The new legislation (HR 1652) would
funnel money from those settlements, which currently goes into
general revenue, into the Crime Victims Fund instead."
[Congressional Quarterly,
7/22/21]
According To The Congressional Budget Office, Expanding
Out-Of-Court Settlements Would Increase Spending To $7.5 Billion
Over A Decade For Victims Of Crime Act Programs. According to
Congressional Quarterly, "Tapping into out-of-court settlements
would result in enough new money coming into the fund to boost
spending on mandatory Victims of Crime Act programs by $7.5 billion
over a decade, the Congressional Budget Office has estimated."
[Congressional Quarterly,
7/22/21]
The Bill Increased State Compensation By 15% To States For Victim
Compensation Programs And Barred A Requirement Of Deducting Recovery
Costs Or Restitution Collections When Determining The Awarded
Funds. According to Congressional Quarterly, "increase from 60% to
75% the amount of grant funding provided to states for victim
compensation programs and prohibit the department from requiring
such programs to deduct recovery costs or restitution collections
when calculating funds awarded." [Congressional Quarterly,
3/17/21]
The Bill Provided Authorization To States To Waive A Fund Matching
Requirement During And One Year After The Pandemic, Or If The State
Establishes A Request And Receive Waiver Policy. According to
Congressional Quarterly, "authorize states to waive a fund matching
requirement for grant recipients during and for one year after the
end of a pandemic-related national emergency, or if the state
establishes a policy for programs to request and receive a waiver."
[Congressional Quarterly,
3/17/21]