Zonta International is a global organization of individuals dedicated to building a better world for women and girls. The Zonta USA Advocacy Action Center is a tool for our members in the United States and other individuals who share our commitment to gender equality to take action to improve the lives of women and girls. With your help, we can make a difference..
Victim assistance programs in all 50 states in the USA receive funding from the Crime Victims Fund (CVF) through the Victims of Crime Act of 1984. These programs support thousands of victim assistance programs throughout the country, including child advocacy centers, domestic violence agencies, and rape crisis centers, which serve an average of 3.7 million victims per year. The funds supporting these programs are accumulated through fines, settlements, bonds, and other monetary penalties associated with federal criminal prosecutions, not taxpayer dollars.
According to the Department of Justice, the CVF balance dropped by 82.94% from FY2017 to the end of FY2024. As a result, Congress dropped the statutory obligation cap from $1.9 billion in FY2023 to $1.35 billion in FY2024. This $550 million cut in obligations resulted in each state seeing a 40% decrease in funding for victim assistance programs.
In February 2025, Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO) introduced a bipartisan bill, the Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act (H.R. 909), which would redirect funds collected through the False Claims Act (FCA) to the CVF and assist the stabilization of the CVF through FY2029.
The FCA’s collected damages repay any defrauded government agency and pay any relevant whistleblower, but the remaining collections are sent to the general fund of the treasury, which was $340.73 million per year between FY2019 and FY2023. The Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act would only redirect the unobligated funds to the CVF. This temporary infusion of resources will help to stabilize the CVF, while retaining the Fund’s original intent of being financed by legal fines and fees and not tax dollars.
Representative Wagner is joined by a bipartisan group of lawmakers including Representatives Nathaniel Moran (R-TX), Jim Costa (D-CA), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Stephanie Bice (R-OK), and Derek Schmidt (R-KS). In the Senate, a companion bill (S.1892) was introduced by Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jerry Moran (R-KS), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).
“Across the nation, child advocacy centers, rape crisis centers, and domestic violence shelters are enduring a devastating drop in funding…Many have been forced to triage their services, and some have had to close their doors entirely. They need our help now.” said Representative Wagner.
“The Crime Victims Fund is essential for supporting victim service providers, ensuring they can continue offering critical aid and compensation to those affected by crime. This bill would fix ongoing challenges by boosting funding for life saving services – without adding to the federal deficit,” says Representative Costa.
Please use our pre-drafted letters to urge your senators and representative to co-sponsor and support the Crimes Victims Fund Stabilization Act (H.R. 909 & S.1892). If they have already sponsored or co-sponsored the bill, you can send a message of thanks.
According to the Department of Justice, the CVF balance dropped by 82.94% from FY2017 to the end of FY2024. As a result, Congress dropped the statutory obligation cap from $1.9 billion in FY2023 to $1.35 billion in FY2024. This $550 million cut in obligations resulted in each state seeing a 40% decrease in funding for victim assistance programs.
In February 2025, Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO) introduced a bipartisan bill, the Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act (H.R. 909), which would redirect funds collected through the False Claims Act (FCA) to the CVF and assist the stabilization of the CVF through FY2029.
The FCA’s collected damages repay any defrauded government agency and pay any relevant whistleblower, but the remaining collections are sent to the general fund of the treasury, which was $340.73 million per year between FY2019 and FY2023. The Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act would only redirect the unobligated funds to the CVF. This temporary infusion of resources will help to stabilize the CVF, while retaining the Fund’s original intent of being financed by legal fines and fees and not tax dollars.
Representative Wagner is joined by a bipartisan group of lawmakers including Representatives Nathaniel Moran (R-TX), Jim Costa (D-CA), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Stephanie Bice (R-OK), and Derek Schmidt (R-KS). In the Senate, a companion bill (S.1892) was introduced by Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jerry Moran (R-KS), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).
“Across the nation, child advocacy centers, rape crisis centers, and domestic violence shelters are enduring a devastating drop in funding…Many have been forced to triage their services, and some have had to close their doors entirely. They need our help now.” said Representative Wagner.
“The Crime Victims Fund is essential for supporting victim service providers, ensuring they can continue offering critical aid and compensation to those affected by crime. This bill would fix ongoing challenges by boosting funding for life saving services – without adding to the federal deficit,” says Representative Costa.
Please use our pre-drafted letters to urge your senators and representative to co-sponsor and support the Crimes Victims Fund Stabilization Act (H.R. 909 & S.1892). If they have already sponsored or co-sponsored the bill, you can send a message of thanks.
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