Legislation NCA Supports

NCA is committed to supporting its members at every level, including legislative efforts to support the work that we do and the children we serve.  

NCA’s policy priorities are:

• Supporting the work of CACs – and demonstrating Congressional support for these vital services – through reauthorization and funding of the Victims of Child Abuse Act
• Supporting the work of CACs by ensuring that CACs have the support and resources they need to serve victims of human trafficking by bringing attention to the issue on a national level
• Ensuring that abused children receive the services they need through increasing funding for the Victims of Crime Act. 

Legislation NCA currently supports includes:

Victims of Child Abuse Act

FY16 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bill

Last year, NCA worked closely with our CAC champions in Congress to reauthorize the Victims of Child Abuse Act, making current our federal funding through 2018.  This was an important bill because it reinforced Congress’ commitment to CACs.  This year, we will continue working with our congressional supporters to fully fund the Victims of Child Abuse Act in the FY16 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bill.

Victims of Crime Act – Crime Victims Fund Overhaul

Fairness for Victims of Crime Act of 2015

Congress created the Crime Victims Fund in 1984 based on a simple idea: money the government collects from those who commit crimes should be used to help those victimized by crime. Each year, criminal fines and penalties collected in federal court are deposited into the Crime Victims Fund. The Department of Justice disburses money from this Fund to States and other entities to support victim compensation and assistance programs.

Since fiscal year 2000, Congress has capped the amount of money disbursed from the Crime Victims Fund. The cap was originally intended to establish a more stable stream of funding. However, the cap on money disbursed from the Fund remained low, even as the amount of money deposited into the Fund has risen dramatically. For example, from fiscal year 2010 through fiscal year 2014, the Crime Victims Fund collected an average of $2 billion each year, but disbursed only an average of $700 million per year.

NCA has been working closely with Senators Toomey and Schumer, and Representatives Poe and Costa, to overhaul the Victims of Crime Act/Crime Victims Fund and actively supports the Fairness for Victims of Crime Act of 2015.

The bipartisan Fairness for Victims of Crime Act of 2015:

• Dramatically increases the overall funding released from the Crime Victims Funds for victims’ services providers;
• Ensures that crucial services are covered such as:

1. Forensic interviews
2. Forensic medical exams for child abuse victims (not just evidence collection)
3. Relocation services for trafficking victims and domestic violence victims
4. Evidence-based counseling
5. Victims advocacy (which has always been covered remains as a crucial service)

• Lowers the match requirement to 7.5%, allowing groups to collect 3 1/3 times as much as they currently collect.

You can help NCA’s efforts on behalf of this bill.  Please call or email your Senator and ask him or her to support and co-sponsor this bill. Prospective Senate co-sponsors can contact Senator Toomey’s office to add their names in support at 202-224-4254.

Materials for Bill:

• Overview Fairness for Victims of Crime Act
• Increase in Victim Assistance Grants Chart
• Diagram of Crime Victim Fund FY16 Proposed
• Talking Points for CACs
• CAC Cosponsor Letter Template
• Organization Support Letter Template

Child Sex Trafficking

Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act (S. 178/H.R. 296)

NCA is working with Sens. Cornyn, Klobuchar and Wyden, and Reps. Poe and Maloney to pass the Justice for Trafficking Victims Act (S 178/HR 296).  This bill would increase resources available to law enforcement, increase criminal penalties, and expand services for victims of sex exploitation and other kinds of human trafficking.  Most importantly for our purposes, the bill creates a grant program specifically for CACs to establish CSEC/child pornography programs at their centers.

Please help NCA’s efforts on behalf of this bill:

Please call or email your Senator and ask him or her to support and co-sponsor.  Prospective Senate co-sponsors can contact Stephen Tausend with Sen. Cornyn at Stephen_Tausend@judiciary-rep.senate.gov

View JVTA Letter of Support

Other Trafficking Bills NCA is actively supporting:

• Stop Exploitation Through Trafficking Act of 2015 (HR 159/S 166) – This bill provides incentives to states to adopt Safe Harbor laws that treat trafficked minors as victims, rather than as criminals or delinquents. NCA actively supports and urges passage of HR 159/166.
• Leahy-Collins Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act (S 262) – This bill reauthorize programs helping youth and provides needed resources to train service providers to identify victims of trafficking.  NCA support and urges passage of S 262.
• Combat Human Trafficking Act of 2015 (S 140) – This bill strengthens law enforcement/prosecution efforts against traffickers, as well as against the buyers of this human trafficking. NCA supports and urges Congress to pass S 140.