When someone reaches out for help after experiencing violence or another crime, support needs to be there. Federal funding helps make services such as shelter, counseling, advocacy, and child advocacy available in communities across the country. That funding is now under strain.
The Crime Victims Fund supports grants under the Victims of Crime Act, commonly called VOCA. These grants help nearly 6,500 organizations serve more than six million victims of crime each year. The fund is supported by fines and penalties from federal cases, rather than taxpayer dollars. In recent years, deposits into the fund have declined, leading to significant cuts in funding for victim services.
For organizations serving victims and survivors, funding cuts can mean fewer staff, reduced services, and longer waits for support. They also create uncertainty for people who may need help at a difficult moment. In Orange and Sullivan Counties, Fearless! Hudson Valley has been advocating for stable funding so victims and survivors can continue to access the services they need. The recent funding reductions affecting New York programs show why a lasting federal solution matters.
THE SENATE NEEDS TO ACT
The bipartisan Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act would temporarily direct certain funds collected through the False Claims Act into the Crime Victims Fund through fiscal year 2029. This would help stabilize funding for victim services while Congress works toward a long-term solution.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill in January 2026. It is now up to the Senate to move it forward.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
You can help by contacting your U.S. senators and asking them to pass the Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act. Tell them why reliable access to shelter, counseling, advocacy, and other victim services matters in your community.
Email your senators through the advocacy form or find their contact information to call their offices. You can also call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected to your senators. Victims and survivors should be able to reach support when they need it. Congress can help protect that access by stabilizing the Crime Victims Fund.
IS YOUR SENATOR A CO-SPONSOR?
Ahead of your outreach, it’s important to find out if your Senator has already signed on as a cosponsor of the CVFSA. If they are, that’s great! Thank them for their support and press the urgency of getting this bill to the floor. If they aren’t, you can add this to your ask. The more cosponsors the bill has, the more pressure Senate leadership will feel to take action on the legislation.
Call Script:
Hello, my name is [your name], and I’m a constituent from [your city and state/territory and, if applicable, your organization].
Option 1: [If they aren’t a cosponsor:] I’m calling to urge Senator [Senator’s name] to sign on as a cosponsor to the bipartisan Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act and follow the House’s lead and pass this bipartisan legislation.
Option 2: [If they are a cosponsor:] I’m calling to thank Senator [Senator’s name] for signing on as a cosponsor of the Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act and urge them to follow the House’s lead and pass this bipartisan legislation.
The Crime Victims Fund, or CVF, is made up of non-taxpayer dollars and funds Victims of Crime Act grants that support more than six million victims of crime nationwide each year, and is the primary source of funding for services that support survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, child sexual abuse, trafficking, and other crimes.
Deposits into the CVF have declined considerably in recent years, resulting in substantial cuts to victim services funding and putting critical, lifesaving services and victims’ lives at risk.
The Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act offers a bipartisan, commonsense solution to stabilize the CVF using non-taxpayer dollars, ensuring continuity of services, while Congress works toward a long-term fix.
I urge [Senator’s name] to take action now,
Option 1: [if they aren’t a cosponsor:] by signing on as a cosponsor and passing the Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act as soon as possible.
Option 2: [If they are a cosponsor:] and pass the Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act as soon as possible.
