{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.scott.senate.gov/media-center/press-releases/scott-and-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-protect-support-for-victims-of-crime-restore-integrity-to-federal-fund/", "SCOTT AND COLLEAGUES INTRODUCE BILL TO PROTECT SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME, RESTORE INTEGRITY TO FEDERAL FUND", "2020-11-13", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "Senate", "SC", "Tim Scott", "S001184", "www.scott.senate.gov", "timscott", "https://www.scott.senate.gov/media-center/press-releases/jsf/jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) joined Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA) to introduce the Fairness for Crime Victims Act, a bill to ensure that money deposited into the Crime Victims Fund goes to crime victims, and is not abused by congressional appropriators as a tool to fund other projects.\n\n\u201cThe Crime Victims Fund was created to help those who were victimized by crimes, and the funds should only be used for that purpose,\u201d said Senator Tim Scott. \u201cIt\u2019s disappointing that Congress has withheld funds that should be going directly to victims; this type of behavior needs to stop. I hope that my colleagues will support this legislation to bring justice to the survivors of crimes.\u201d\n\n\u201cFederal law requires that the proceeds of the Crime Victims Fund only be used to serve victims of crime. Year after year though, Congress withholds billions from victims of child abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, and other crimes in order to fake a smaller deficit or direct funds to other programs,\u201d said Senator Toomey. \u201cThis is wrong and we should do better by victims of crime. Every penny in the Crime Victims Fund should be disbursed annually to serve those for whom it is intended.\u201d\n\n\u201cCHILD USA is delighted to see Senator Toomey pushing for justice and service provision for survivors of violent crime with the Fairness for Crime Victims Act,\u201d said Marci Hamilton, CEO and Legal Director of CHILD USA, a national non-profit that works to stop all forms of child abuse. \u201cEnsuring adequate funding to assist child advocacy centers, rape crisis centers, domestic violence shelters, and compensation to survivors is essential to assist survivors in escaping and overcoming their abusers.\u201d\n\nBackground\n\nThe Crime Victims Fund was created in 1984, based on the principle that the money the federal government collects from those are convicted of crimes should be used to help those victimized by crime.\n\nFunded by criminal fines and penalties collected by the federal government, the Crime Victims Fund receives no taxpayer dollars. It is used to compensate victims directly and to support victims\u2019 service groups, such as Child Advocacy Centers, rape crisis centers, and domestic violence shelters. Under federal law, money deposited into the Crime Victims Fund may only be used to assist crime victims.\n\nEven though the federal law provides that money deposited in the Crime Victims Fund may only be used to assist crime victims, for more than a decade, Congress has withheld billions of dollars from victims of crime and instead used that money to pay for other discretionary spending projects. Through a budget gimmick, Congress represents that this already-spent money is still in the Crime Victims Fund and available for victims of crime.\n\nThis legislation would result in more than $2.9 billion being distributed to victims in 2021 \u2013 an increase of more than $800 million from 2020. The legislation also ensures the stability of the Crime Victims Fund, guaranteeing victims in South Carolina and across the country the benefits they are owed.\n\nThis legislation was co-sponsored by Senators Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.).\n\nSenator Tim Scott was an original co-sponsor of this legislation during the 115th Congress. This bill is endorsed by CHILD USA.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:39:51Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.scott.senate.gov/media-center/press-releases/scott-and-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-protect-support-for-victims-of-crime-restore-integrity-to-federal-fund/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8734769653528929, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}