Introduction of Victims' Rights Week Resolution

INTRODUCTION OF VICTIMS' RIGHTS WEEK RESOLUTION -- HON. JIM COSTA (Extensions of Remarks - April 05, 2006)

* Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, as co-chair of the Congressional Victim's Rights Caucus, I rise today to introduce the 2006 Victims Rights Week Resolution on behalf of myself, and Caucus Co-chairs Congressman TED POE of Texas and Congresswoman KATHERINE HARRIS of Florida. This concurrent resolution expresses Congress' support of the goals and ideals of National Crime Victims' Rights Week and the efforts to increase public awareness of the rights, needs, and concerns of crime victims and survivors in the United States. This observance will take place the week of April 23 through April 29.

* In 1980, President Reagan first called for a national observance to recognize and honor the millions of victims of crimes in our country, their families, and survivors. National Crime 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 week of the year. National Crime Victims' Rights Week has since been proclaimed annually with ceremonies and observances in Washington D.C. and in hundreds of communities throughout our nation.

* President Reagan's commitment to the rights of victims lead to the passage of the Victims of Crime Act, which in 1984 created the Crime Victims Fund. Since then, the Crime Victims Fund has dedicated more than $7.4 billion collected from criminal fines--not taxpayers dollars--that annually supports more than 4,400 victim assistance programs serving some 3.8 million victims and compensation to more than 165,000 victims for their unreimbursed medical expenses, lost wages and funeral costs.

* The 2006 National Crime Victims' Rights Week theme is ``Victims' Rights: Strength in Unity.'' It is indeed appropriate because today an unprecedented coalition of victims and survivors, victim advocacy organizations, justice professional and service providers are once together joining together to protect the Crime Victims Fund, a legacy of the Reagan Administration.

* Before the emergence of the victims' rights movement, you would hear plenty about criminals, but nothing about victims. You could go to college and take courses to learn how to help and manage abusers, but little was said about those they abused. Crime was the main issue; victims, if at all, were an afterthought, Meanwhile, society treated victims in the same manner. Victims had no voice. They had few rights. They were largely left in the shadows.

* This has changed thanks to our Nation's victims' rights movement. Today, victims of crime and those who serve them have not only a voice, but a vision for what justice should look like in America. Today, there are over 32,000 laws that define and protect victim's rights. In 2006, we not only listen to victims; we learn from them. We are beginning to view them not only as an obligation mandated by law, but also as an opportunity--as people with vital information to help us better manage violent offenders; and as people who have helped us understand the devastating impact of crime.

* I am proud to be one of the three co-founders, along with Representatives POE and HARRIS of the Congressional Victim's Rights Caucus. The goals of the Victim's Rights Caucus are to (1) represent crime victims in the United States through the bipartisan legislation that reflects their interests, rights and needs; (2) provide an ongoing forum for proactive interactions between the U.S. Congress and national victim assistance organizations to enhance mutual education, legislative advocacy and initiatives that promote justice for all--including victims of crime; and (3) seek opportunities for public education initiatives to help people in America to understand the impact of crime on victims, and to encourage their involvement in crime prevention, victim assistance, and community safety.

* Crime does not know any geographic, demographic or political boundaries; it touches all of our constituents in every community. And so, as Congress expresses its support for National Crime Victims Rights Week and its efforts to increase public awareness of the impact of crime on victims, survivors and on our communities, we encourage all members to join the Caucus, as a critical voice of victims, in the Congress.

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