IV 
113TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 551 
Supporting the mission and goals of 2014 National Crime Victims’ Rights 
Week, which include increasing public awareness of the rights, needs, 
and concerns of, and services available to assist, victims of crime in 
the United States. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 10, 2014 
Mr. COSTA (for himself, Mr. POE of Texas, Mr. VARGAS, Ms. BASS, Mr. 
SWALWELL of California, and Mr. LEWIS) submitted the following resolu-
tion; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 
RESOLUTION 
Supporting the mission and goals of 2014 National Crime 
Victims’ Rights Week, which include increasing public 
awareness of the rights, needs, and concerns of, and 
services available to assist, victims of crime in the United 
States. 
Whereas in 2011, there were approximately 6,000,000 vic-
tims of violent crime and more than 17,000,000 victims 
of property crime in the United States; 
Whereas according to the National Crime Victimization Sur-
vey, nonfatal violent crime in the United States increased 
by 17 percent and property crime in the United States 
increased by 11 percent between 2010 and 2011; 
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•HRES 551 IH 
Whereas according to the Uniform Crime Reporting Program 
of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, ‘‘law enforcement 
agencies throughout the nation reported an increase of 
1.9 percent in the number of violent crimes brought to 
their attention for the first 6 months of 2012 when com-
pared with figures reported for the same time in 2011’’; 
Whereas a just society acknowledges the impact of crime on 
individuals, families, schools, and communities by pro-
tecting the rights of crime victims and ensuring that re-
sources and services are available to help rebuild the lives 
of such victims; 
Whereas despite impressive accomplishments between 1974 
and 2014 in increasing the rights of, and services avail-
able to, crime victims, and the families of such victims, 
many challenges remain to ensure that all crime victims 
are— 
(1) treated with dignity, fairness, and respect; 
(2) offered support and services regardless of wheth-
er such victims report crimes committed against them; 
and 
(3) recognized as key participants within the crimi-
nal, juvenile, Federal, tribal, and civil justice systems in 
the United States when such victims report crimes; 
Whereas crime victims in the United States need and deserve 
support and assistance to help such victims cope with the 
often devastating consequences of crime; 
Whereas 2014 marks the 30th anniversary of the enactment 
of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10601 
et seq.) (referred to in this preamble as ‘‘VOCA’’), which 
is the hallmark of the commitment of the Federal Gov-
ernment to supporting rights and services for victims of 
all types of crime; 
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•HRES 551 IH 
Whereas VOCA established the Crime Victims Fund, which 
is paid for by criminal fines and penalties, rather than 
by taxpayer dollars; 
Whereas the Crime Victims Fund has collected more than 
$20,400,000,000 from criminals to be used exclusively to 
help victims of crime; 
Whereas during each year between 1984 and 2014, commu-
nities across the United States have joined Congress and 
the Department of Justice in commemorating National 
Crime Victims’ Rights Week to celebrate a shared vision 
of a comprehensive and collaborative response that identi-
fies and addresses the many needs of crime victims; 
Whereas Congress and the President agree on the need for 
a renewed commitment to serving all victims of crime in 
the 21st century; 
Whereas the theme of 2014 National Crime Victims’ Rights 
Week, celebrated during the week of April 6 through 
April 12, 2014, is ‘‘30 Years: Restoring the Balance of 
Justice’’ and highlights the many challenges that con-
front crime-victim assistance, justice, and public safety; 
and 
Whereas the people of the United States recognize and appre-
ciate the continued importance of promoting the rights 
of, and services for, crime victims and of honoring crime 
victims and individuals who provide services for crime vic-
tims: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House— 
(1) supports the mission and goals of 2014 Na-
tional Crime Victims’ Rights Week, which include in-
creasing individual and public awareness of— 
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•HRES 551 IH 
(A) the impact of crime on victims; 
(B) the challenges to achieving justice for 
victims; and 
(C) the many solutions to meet such chal-
lenges; 
(2) recognizes that crime victims should be 
treated with dignity, fairness, and respect; and 
(3) recognizes the 30th anniversary of the en-
actment of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (42 
U.S.C. 10601 et seq.). 
Æ 
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