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CONGRESSMAN COSTA PROTECTS CRIME VICTIMS FUND

June 25, 2007

Washington, DC-Today, Congressman Jim Costa (CA-20), a co-founder of the CongressionalVictims' Rights Caucus, announced that the Crime Victims Fund is maintained inthe House Appropriations bill. ThePresident's budget proposed a $1.2 billion rescission of the Fund. Fortunately, the Science, State, Justice andCommerce House Appropriations bill does not include the rescission.

"Overthe last several months, I have worked tirelessly to make sure the CrimeVictims Fund is protected. This fundingprovides invaluable services to victims and their families and it is great newsthat this funding will remain intact," Costa said.

TheFund was enacted to pay for victims' services and compensations. It operates with money collected fromcriminal offenders, not taxpayers. Oncecollected, the funding is distributed to victims and organizations that providevictims' services. There areapproximately 4,400 agencies that depend upon the victim assistance funds toprovide direct services to 3.6 million crime victims a year. The Fund helps provide funding for domesticviolence shelters, victims' compensation for court costs, funeral services andmedical expenses.

CongressmanCosta, along with approximately 100 Members of Congress, urged the Presidentand Appropriations Committee not to rescind the Crime Victims Fund. In addition, Congressman Costa participatedin a national press conference on Capitol Hill that drew attention to the CrimeVictims Fund.

"TheCrime Victims Fund is vital to many communities and organizations that rely onit for victims' services and compensation. In the 20th congressional district, many organizationsreceive money from the Fund. Kern, Kingsand Fresnocounty probation departments all receive funding. In addition, Clinica Sierra Vista uses thefunding to provide health services to victims of crime and Marjaree MasonCenter uses the fundingto help victims of domestic violence," stated Costa.

"Crimevictims have suffered enough and it is important to remember how we can improvetheir lives and their families' lives. This Fund provides crucial services to victims," concluded Costa.

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