2021: Schweikert Voted To Direct The Justice Department Crime Victims Fund To Expand And Include Funds From Deferred Prosecution And Non-Prosecution Agreements. In March 2021, Schweikert 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]