Costa blasts Bush on crime victims' funding

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Praising the efforts of the nation'svictims' rights movement Congressman Jim Costa, D- Fresno, today took the BushAdministration to task for what he called its, "wrongheaded attempt to balancethe budget on the backs of victims."

In a statement delivered on the House Floor, Costa, one ofthe founders of the Congressional Victims' Rights Caucus, criticized theadministration for retracting a program that was first developed underPresident Ronald Reagan. President Reagan led the fight for passage ofthe Victims of Crime Act in 1984, which created the Crime Victims' Fund. Fines levied on criminals provide the moneyfor the Crime Victims' Fund. Reiteratingthat these funds are "not taxpayer dollars," Costa pointed out that the Fundgives monetary aid "to service providers who assist millions of crime victimsannually."

The Fresnolawmaker declared that, "We must ensure the Crime Victims' Fund is used forwhat President Reagan intended - to help victims who truly need and deserveassistance and to hold offenders accountable."

The 2006 National Crime Victims' Rights Week theme is"Victims' Rights: Strength in Unity." The week is celebrated with ceremonies and observances in Washington, D.C.and in hundreds of communities across the nation.

# # #