Homeland Security Investigations Victim Assistance Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.1527 | Sponsor: Rep. Wagner, Ann (R-MO)
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement

Summary:
Homeland Security Investigations Victim Assistance Act of 2021
This bill provides statutory authority for a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement program that assists victims of human trafficking, child sexual exploitation, and other crimes.

To establish the Homeland Security Investigations victim assistance 
                    program, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Homeland Security Investigations 
Victim Assistance Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY INVESTIGATIONS VICTIM 
              ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

    (a) Formalization of the Homeland Security Investigations Victim 
Assistance Program.--Section 442 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 
(6 U.S.C. 252) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) Homeland Security Investigations Victim Assistance Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--There is established in Homeland 
        Security Investigations of U.S. Immigration and Customs 
        Enforcement the Victim Assistance Program.
            ``(2) Functions.--The Victim Assistance Program shall--
                    ``(A) provide oversight, guidance, training, 
                travel, equipment, and coordination to victim 
                assistance personnel nationwide;
                    ``(B) locate, at a minimum, a forensic interview 
                specialist and a victim assistance specialist in each 
                Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in 
                Charge office in addition to a victim assistance 
                specialist in every Homeland Security Investigations 
                office participating in a human trafficking task force, 
                every Homeland Security Investigations regional attache 
                office, and every Homeland Security Investigations 
                office participating in a child sexual exploitation 
                task force; and
                    ``(C) provide training on such topics as victims' 
                rights, victim-related policies, roles of forensic 
                interviewers and victim assistance specialists, and the 
                victim-centered approach.''.

SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that the U.S. Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations Victim Assistance Program 
provides critical services to victims of trafficking and assists 
victims of crime in furtherance of Federal criminal investigations. The 
Victim Assistance Program should continue to assess victims' needs; 
provide referrals to survivors to nonprofit organizations, faith-based 
organizations, and other victim service providers; and work with 
special agents to integrate victim assistance considerations throughout 
the investigation and judicial processes.

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act 
$25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.
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