Caucus Co-Chairs Costa and Poe
Introduce Legislation Recognizing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week

February 3, 2009

25 Years of Rebuilding Lives: Celebrating the Victims of Crime Act

As co-chairs of the Congressional Victim’s Rights Caucus, we invite you to co-sponsor H. Res. 109 which expresses Congress' support of the goals and ideals of National Crime Victims' Rights Week. The 2009 Victims’ Rights Week theme is “25 Years of Rebuilding Lives: Celebrating the Victims of Crime Act” and will be observed the week of April 26 through May 2.

In 1980, President Reagan first called for a national observance to recognize and honor the millions of crime victims and survivors in America.  Victims’ Rights Week also pays tribute to the thousands of community-based and system-based victim services providers and to the criminal justice and allied professionals who provide critical support and assistance to victims every day, of every week, of every year.  Victims’ Rights Week has since been proclaimed annually with ceremonies and observances in Washington D.C. and in thousands of communities throughout our nation.

Crime does not know any geographic, demographic or political boundaries; it touches all of our constituents in every community. To support victims’ rights through co-sponsorship of this resolution, contact Bret Rumbeck of Congressman Costa’s office at 5-3341 or Tabatha Mansfield of Congressman Poe’s office at 5-6565. 

Read H Res 109

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Legislation to Designate National Stalking Awareness Month Passed by House <>

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Washington, February 3 ----<>

 
The House passed Bill H.RES. 82 on February 3, 2009, with a vote of 417 - 0. Stalking is a serious offense defined as a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause the person to feel fear. The act of stalking is increasing, with nearly 1.4 million Americans falling victims to it each year. Although each state, including the District of Columbia, and the federal government consider stalking a crime, many Americans still do not realize the dangers of stalking. The Congressional Victims' Rights Caucus would like to ask people to join them in designating January 2009 as National Stalking Awareness Month. National Stalking Awareness Month would bring victims service providers across the nation together to inform communities on the dangers of this crime.

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Representative Poe Introduces Legislation to Protect Victims of Crime

Washington, January 8 ---

Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) is a collection of criminal fines used to help victims and their families. For the past several years, the Administration’s budget has called for a recession of VOCA into the National Treasury. Such an act would greatly deplete funds and cut services to victims.

To combat this, the Congressional Victims' Rights Caucus is introducing "Victims of Crime Preservation Fund Act of 2009,” which would remove VOCA from federal budgetary consideration. By doing so, the VOCA fund would become a specific and protected entity used only for the services of victims and compensation for their suffering.

Read H.R. 483

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Designate March as National Criminal Justice Month

Washington January 7 ----

This nation’s criminal justice system impacts everyone. The Bureau of Justice Statistics recently discovered that 35% of Americans have little or no confidence in the criminal justice system. The Congressional Victims’ Right Caucus hopes that by establishing March as the National Criminal Justice Month, it will encourage community leaders and organizations to educate and promote discussion on the causes and consequences of crime, as well as how to prevent and respond to crime.

Read H.R. 45

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Victim’s Rights Caucus Fall Advisory Council Meeting

Washington, November 18 -

The Congressional Victim’s Rights Caucus Advisory Council met in November to discuss important developments in the victims’ rights field, as well as a legislative outlook for the 111^th Congress.
                                                                                                                                                                                 

Congratulations to Jamie Leigh Jones on the Arrival of her New Baby


Washington, October 6 -

The Victim's Rights Caucus would like to congratulate Jamie Leigh Jones and her husband on the birth of their daughter. 

Annabelle Lilly Poetry Daigle, named in honor of Congressman Poe, was born on September 28.


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On April 30, 2008, the House of Representatives passed H. Con. Res 330, a Resolution that designated April 2008 as National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month.

Congressman Poe Testifies Before Budget Committee

on Safeguarding VOCA Funding

“The Feds need to keep their hands off of the Crime Victims Fund”

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Ted Poe (TX-02), founder and co-chair of the Congressional Victim’s Rights Caucus, testified today before the House Committee on the Budget addressing the critical need to safeguard the Victim of Crime Fund (VOCA) and fully restore funding levels.

“Federal bureaucrats see a Fund with over a billion dollars in it and instantly want to touch it. But it’s not their money to touch,” said Poe.  “The Crime Victims Fund has $1.7 billion this year. Next year, it will be $1.9 billion. Every year, the fund grows larger, but every year the government lowers the amount available for VOCA grants.”

VOCA was established by Congress and signed into law by President Ronald Reagan in 1984.  This Fund is solely supported by fees and fines collected from convicted federal felons – no tax dollars are used to fund VOCA. The Fund helps pay restitution to victims and provides federal funding for domestic violence shelters, rape crisis centers, and other victim-oriented organizations.

Over the last few years, the cap on funding to victim’s and support agencies from the VOCA Fund has been cut each year.  In addition, the Justice Department is assessing a surcharge at the rate of 5.5% to administer the Fund, equaling $32.45 million this year alone.

“The Justice Department does not have the legal authority to do this and is doing so without Congressional approval,” stated Poe.  “The Justice Department’s budget is being cut so it wants to steal money from victims of crime to make up for the difference.”

The Administration recommends rescinding the Crime Victims Fund – abolish the $1.7 billion Fund. “This would drain the Fund, combine offender revenue with taxpayer funds, and allow the Administration to use the funds for other pet projects,” continued Poe. “Victims should not be forced to wage an annual fight over a Fund that was created for their sole benefit.”

The Administration’s 2009 budget proposal also includes another $52 million cut for state assistance grants. That’s a total cut of $159 million since 2006. In order to offset these cuts and restore funding to the 2006 level, Congress will have to raise the Fund to $770 million in Fiscal Year 2009.

“Mr. Chairman, I urge you to ensure that the 2009 VOCA cap is at least $770 million, Poe concluded. “Crime victims do not have high dollar lobbyists here in Washington, DC to advocate on their behalf. Victims expect us, Members of Congress, to advocate on their behalf. They were victims of crime and we cannot let federal bureaucrats continue to victimize them. It is important that we do not let the bureaucrats raid the Crime Victims Fund and use that money for other purposes. Bureaucrats must find that money somewhere else. This money belongs to crime victims and needs to be left alone.”

Congressman Poe is the founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Victim’s Rights Caucus.  As a former criminal court judge and prosecutor for over 30 years in Houston, Texas, Poe is recognized nationally for his creative sentencing of criminals and as a dedicated advocate for victims and children.

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Senate Recognizes Stalking Awareness Month

On December 18, the Senate passed, by unanimous consent, S. Res. 414, a resolution designating January 2008 as “National Stalking Awareness Month.” Sponsored by Sen. Joseph Biden (D-DE), the resolution contains a number of findings, including:

• An estimated 1,006,970 women and 370,990 men are stalked annually in the United States and, in the majority of such cases, the person is stalked by someone who is not a stranger;
• 81% of women who are stalked by an intimate partner are also physically assaulted by that partner, and 76 % of women who are killed by an intimate partner were stalked by that partner;
• 74.2 % of stalking victims report that being stalked interfered with their employment, 26 % of stalking victims lose time from work as a result of their victimization, and 7 % of stalking victims never return to work;
• Stalking victims are forced to take drastic measures to protect themselves, such as relocating, changing their addresses, changing their identities, changing jobs, and obtaining protection orders; and
• Rapid advancements in technology have made cyber-surveillance the new frontier in stalking.

On December 6, 2007, Congressman Ted Poe introduced a House Resolution, H. Res. 852, to designate January 2008 as “National Stalking Awareness Month.” The House has not yet voted on this resolution. Call your Representative today and urge him/her to cosponsor H. Res. 852.

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted Thursday to reauthorize programs aimed at locating missing and exploited children.

S. 1829 reauthorizes $20 million for FY08 and "such sums as are necessary" for FY 09 through FY 13. The current authorization calls for $20 million annually for FY 04 through FY 08.

The funds, if appropriated, go to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, a Virginia-based nonprofit organization. The center serves as a clearinghouse for information and works closely with law enforcement agencies to help find abducted or runaway youngsters. The center also helps coordinate information distributed on the Amber Alert electronic system when children go missing.

The Senate Judiciary Committee gave unanimous approval Thursday, December 13, 2007, on S. 431, legislation requiring convicted sex offenders to register their online identifications in a database aimed at clamping down on adults soliciting minors in chat rooms.

The measure would require sex offenders to provide their e-mail addresses, screen names, and other identifiers for a national online database.

Failure to register could result in imprisonment for up to 10 years. The attorney general's office would maintain the registry, which social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook could access so they could remove offenders from their websites.

It would also make it a crime for adults to misrepresent themselves as a minor with the intent of engaging in illegal conduct. Such misrepresentation to a minor at least four years younger than the adult could result in imprisonment for up to 20 years.

                                                                                                                                        Media Contact:
                                                                                                                                        DeeAnn Thigpen         
                                                                                                                                        202-812-1645 cell

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 12, 2007

CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS ON JAMIE

  LEIGH JONES CASE SET FOR NEXT WEEK

Congressman Poe’s Calls for Investigation Given Priority

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Ted Poe (TX-02) announces today that the House Judiciary Committee will hold Congressional Hearings into the sexual assault allegations of former KBR employee Jamie Leigh Jones against several of her coworkers in Iraq.  The Hearing on "Enforcement of Federal Criminal Law to Protect Americans Working for U.S. Contractors in Iraq" is set for Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at 10:15am EST in room 2141 of the Rayburn House Office Building.

 
Congressman Poe sent numerous letters this week to State and Justice Department officials and joined Judiciary Chairman, Congressman John Conyers, in a letter to the Attorney General demanding immediate answers in the status of this investigation.

 
“Jamie Leigh Jones has bravely decided to waive her rights to privacy and come forward with her story of a brutal sexual assault that she endured while working in Iraq,” said Poe.  “In 2005, I was contacted by Jaime’s father to facilitate her return from Iraq after she called him for help.  Two years later we are still looking for answers as to why this case has not been investigated.  Through Jamie’s decision to go public with her story, we now have the ability to demand answers in a public forum. 

 
“I applaud Chairman Conyers for his swift action and bringing this case before the Judiciary Committee.  I will continue to work with my colleagues to see that her rights as an American citizen and a victim are upheld.”

 
Congressman Poe was instrumental in facilitating the return of Jamie after receiving a call from her father in July 2005.  Congressman Poe contacted the State Department’s Department of Overseas Citizen Services, which then dispatched agents from the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad to rescue Jamie.

On July 21, 2005, Jamie Leigh Jones was sent to Iraq as a Kellogg Brown and Root ("KBR") contractor. Within four days of being stationed in Baghdad, Jamie says that she was drugged and brutally raped by several of her coworkers, who were stationed there as KBR firefighters. After informing her superiors, Army doctors performed a forensic sexual assault examination on Jamie.

 
According to Jamie, KBR held her in a shipping container under armed guard without food or water for more than twenty-four hours. A sympathetic guard lent Jamie his cell phone and she was able to contact her father for help.  

 
Congressman Poe is the founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Victim’s Rights Caucus.  As a former criminal court judge and prosecutor for over 30 years in Houston, Texas, Poe is recognized nationally for his creative sentencing of criminals and as a dedicated advocate for victims and children. 

The Senate adopted HR 4118 by voice vote on Thursday, December 6, 2007; two days after the House of Representatives passed the bill by voice vote.

HR 4118 excludes from gross income all payments received from the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund, a fund set up in the wake up the Virginia Tech shooting rampage. Virginia Tech University received financial contributions from 21,000 donors and set up the fund to distribute the donations.

More than $8.5 million was distributed to the 47 injured students and the deceased victim's families in October 2007. Payments of $208,000 were made to the families, and various amounts to those who were injured. The bill would make up for the lost tax revenue--estimated at less than $500,00--by raising for one year the penalty for late filers of tax returns for partnerships. The increase would be $1 per partner per month.

Senate Judiciary Committee
Full Committee Markup

DATE:               11/6

TIME:                10:00 am

ROOM:             226 Dirksen Building 

Judiciary Committee
Full Committee Hearing

DATE:               11/1

TIME:                10:00 am

ROOM:             2141 Rayburn Building 

RE:                   HR 2878. This bill seeks to increase Assistant U.S. Attorney's retirement benefits by imposing a 5% surchaege on unpaid judgments owed to the US and crime victims. This bill has could impact the Crime Victim Fund under VOCA.

Judiciary Committee:

Full Committee Hearing

DATE:               10/31

TIME:                2:00 pm

ROOM:             2141 Rayburn Bldg.

RE:                   Anti-trafficking Programs—“Combating Modern Slavery: Reauthorization of Anti-Trafficking Programs”

House Foreign Affairs Committee:

Full Committee – Oversight Hearing on International Trafficking in Persons: Taking Action to Eliminate Modern Day Slavery.

10:00 am, Room 2172 Rayburn House Office Building

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Hearing Held on Human Trafficking for Forced Labor Purposes:

On Thursday, October 11, 2007, the US Helsinki Commission held a hearing to focus on U.S. and OSCE efforts to combat human trafficking for forced labor purposes. The witnesses included:

Panel One:

The Honorable Mark Lagon, U.S. Department of State Ambassador-at-Large and Director of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons and Senior Advisor to the Secretary of State

Ms. Charlotte M. Ponticelli, Deputy Undersecretary for International Labor Affairs, Bureau of International Labor Affairs, U.S. Department of Labor

Mr. Michael E. Feinberg, Acting Director for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE), Office of International Affairs (OIA), under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

Panel Two:

Ms. Eva Biaudet, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings

Mr. Roger Plant, Head, Special Action Programme to Combat Forced Labour, International Labor Organisation

Mr. Kevin Bales, President, Free the Slaves.

The hearing was held at 10:00am in Room 2226 of the Rayburn House Office Building.

Click here for additional information
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Celebrating the Victims of Crime Act

Washington, January 7 ------

In 1980, President Reagan called for a national observance to acknowledge and honor the millions of crime victims and survivors in America. This tribute became known as Victims’ Rights Week. Since then it has been recognized annually with ceremonies and observances in Washington, D.C. and in thousands of communities throughout the nation. The Congressional Victims’ Right Caucus is gathering support for Victims’ Rights Week through a resolution expressing Congress’ support of the goals and ideals of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. The 2009 Victims’ Rights Week theme is “25 Years of Rebuilding Lives: Celebrating the Victims of Crime Act” and will be observed the week of April 26 through May 2.

Senate Judiciary Committee will make up S. Res 326, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of a National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims.

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September 25, 2007

Rep. Poe Sponsors Legislation to Raise Awareness of Domestic Violence

VRC Chairs Poe/Costa Hail Passage of Resolution

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Ted Poe (TX-02), founder and co-chair of the Congressional Victim’s Rights (VRC), announces his resolution to recognize the goals and ideals of Domestic Violence Awareness Month passed the US House of Representatives by a vote of 395 – 0. H. Res. 590 had 63 bipartisan cosponsors.

“Love never comes with black eyes, bruises and battery,” said Poe. “America must be concerned about what takes place in our families and the effects of domestic violence on everyone involved. While one-in-four women are victims of domestic violence in their lifetime, they are not alone – men and children are victims as well. This is a problem that goes far beyond the relationships of two people. As a lifelong advocate for victims, it is important that we as a country recognize the devastating effects of domestic violence and do everything in our power to put an end to the nightmare.”

Congressman Jim Costa (D-CA), Co-Chair of Victim’s Rights Caucus, issued the following statement:

“Victims of domestic violence are our brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, and friends. We need to bring the scourge of domestic violence to the forefront of our communities in hope that educating people about the evils of domestic violence will one day end this awful crime. I am proud to have co-authored this bill, and will continue to work for all victims of crime.”

H. Res. 590:

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress should raise awareness of domestic violence in the United States and its devastating effects on families and communities.

Congressman Poe is the founder and co-chair of the Congressional Victim’s Rights Caucus and life-long advocate for victims and law enforcement. Poe serves on the Board of Directors for the National Children’s Alliance in Washington, DC and the Children’s Assessment Center in Houston, Texas.

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Washington, Apr 10 -

Co-Chairs Congressman Ted Poe (R-TX) and Congressman Jim Costa (D-CA) joined members of the bipartisan Congressional Victim’s Rights Caucus to honor this year’s outstanding individuals that have given their time and service to helping victims at a special ceremony held in their honor. 

The 2008 Victim’s Rights Caucus Award Recipients:

(1)   Suzanne McDaniel Public Awareness Award – Jamie Leigh Jones for her efforts in raising national awareness of the plight of American contractors victimized abroad. By creating the Jamie Leigh Foundation, Jamie Leigh provided a voice for other victims and enabled other victims to find strength and comfort in knowing that they are not alone.

§         This is the first year that the former Public Awareness Award will be entitled the Suzanne McDaniel Public Awareness Award. Suzanne McDaniel is one of the first prosecutor-based victim advocates in Texas and the nation. She has advocated for crime victims at the local, state, and federal levels. She created Harris County’s first community interagency councils on sexual assault and family violence and the first rape exam protocol for Houston Hospital and Medical Associations. She created the Texas Crime Victim Clearinghouse, the first statewide resource in the nation. She also helped draft and pass the Texas Crime Victim Bill of Rights, the Texas Crime Victims’ Compensation Act, and the Texas Constitutional Amendment on Crime Victim Rights.

(2)   Ed Stout Memorial Award for Outstanding Victim Advocacy – Jim Rowland, who completely changed the way the judicial system perceives and treats crime victims. He is known as the “father of the victim impact statement,” which is now instituted in every state and which refocused the court’s attention on the human cost of crime. In 1976, this was a revolutionary idea. It allowed written or oral information to be presented about the impact of the crime on the victim and the victim’s family. These statements allow the court to refocus its attention on the human cost of the crime and provides a way for the victim to participate in the criminal justice process. Because of his efforts, crime victims received the consideration, fairness, and support that they were lacking.

(3)   Allied Profession Award – Sheriff Michael Jackson, Prince George’s County, Maryland. Under his leadership, domestic violence cases are now a priority in Prince George’s County. By creating the Domestic Violence/Community Services Unit, he implemented a unique and comprehensive approach to victim services and protection. He also created the first 24 hour - 7 days a week Domestic Violence Intervention Unit, the first civilian Domestic Violence Intervention/Community Services Unit, and the Domestic Violence Victim Advocate Unit, which demonstrate his unparalleled and remarkable commitment to crime victims.

(4)   Eva Murillo Unsung Hero Award – Laurie Dishman, who was sexually assaulted on a cruise ship. Since this tragedy, Laurie has fought to ensure justice for other cruise ship victims. She’s provided a voice and support network for other cruise ship victims.

(5)   Lois Haight Award of Excellence and Innovation – Gloria Sandoval for her work as the leader and initiator of innovative programs such as “Zero Tolerance for Domestic Violence,” and “Safe 4 US.” Gloria’s contributions changed the way state government agencies address the needs of crime victims. (Ms. Sandoval will not be present at the awards ceremony.)

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Congressional Victim’s Rights Caucus

Co-Chairs’ Remarks Regarding the Passage

of H. Resolution 590

Rep. Ted Poe

 
“Love never comes with black eyes, bruises and battery.  America must be concerned about what takes place in our families and the effects of domestic violence on everyone involved.  While one-in-four women are victims of domestic violence in their lifetime, they are not alone – men and children are victims as well.  This is a problem that goes far beyond the relationships of two people, and that has a devastating social and economic impact on communities and our nation as a whole.  As a lifelong advocate for victims, I believe it’s important that we as a country recognize the devastating effects of domestic violence and do everything in our power to put an end to the nightmare.

Victim’s Rights Caucus Co-Chair Jim Costa and I hope that the unanimous vote of H. Res. 590 – 395 to 0 – sends a strong message across America that domestic violence will not be tolerated, and that by generating greater awareness about the scourge of this prolific crime, we can all promote prevention of domestic violence, and protection of and supportive services for its victims.”

 Rep. Jim Costa

 “Victims of domestic violence are our sisters, brothers, mothers, fathers, daughters, sons and friends.  We need to bring the crisis of domestic violence to the forefront of our communities in hope that educating people about the evils of domestic violence will one day end this awful crime. 

 
With its unanimous vote of 395 to 0 in support of H. Res. 590, the U.S. House of Representatives sends a strong message that domestic violence is simply unacceptable – to the U.S. Congress and to the thousands of communities we represent.  The U.S. Congress Victim’s Rights Caucus Co-Chair Ted Poe and I send our best wishes to the countless professionals and volunteers who selflessly serve victims of domestic violence on a daily basis, and to the many victims who deserve support and services.  We wish each of you a successful National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October.

 
I am proud to have co-authored this bill, and will continue to work for all victims of crime.”