Crime Victims Fund Act Stabilizes Support

Congress has moved forward with bipartisan legislation to stabilize the Crime Victims Fund, which has experienced a dramatic 83% decline in available resources since 2017.[5] The Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act redirects unobligated funds collected through the False Claims Act into the Crime Victims Fund through fiscal year 2029, addressing a critical shortfall that has forced victim service programs nationwide to reduce services or close entirely.[1][5]

The Crime Victims Fund, established by the Victims of Crime Act of 1984, supports thousands of victim assistance programs across all 50 states, serving an average of 3.7 million crime victims annually.[5] These programs include child advocacy centers, domestic violence agencies, rape crisis centers, and emergency shelters that provide essential services like counseling, medical expense reimbursement, and crisis intervention.[9] Unlike many federal programs, the fund is financed entirely through criminal fines, settlements, and penalties—not taxpayer dollars—making it unique as the federal government's only program supporting services for victims of all types of crime.[5][7]

For Milwaukee residents, the stabilization of this fund directly impacts local victim services. Wisconsin's victim compensation and assistance programs rely on these federal grants to operate, and the recent funding crisis has threatened their ability to serve survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and other crimes in our community.[9] By redirecting False Claims Act settlements—which totaled over $5.5 billion in the past two fiscal years—Congress aims to ensure these critical local services can continue operating without interruption through the end of the decade.[5]

The legislation has already passed the House and now awaits Senate consideration, with bipartisan support from lawmakers who recognize the importance of maintaining this lifeline for crime victims and their families.[1][4]