HARRISBURG, PA — Lt. Gov. Austin Davis is urging Congress and state lawmakers to strengthen funding for crime victims, warning that critical services remain at risk without immediate action.
This week, Davis sent a letter to Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation, pressing them to approve at least $1.9 billion in federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding and to support legislation aimed at stabilizing the Crime Victims Fund. The appeal comes as federal budget talks continue in Washington and state leaders weigh a $9 million boost for the Victims Compensation Assistance Program (VCAP).
“While no financial assistance can undo their trauma, the victims compensation program – and the services provided by others standing with me today – can play an essential role in helping survivors rebuild their lives,” Davis said. “Turning our back on victims is not an option.”
In Pennsylvania, VOCA-supported programs serve nearly 150,000 people annually. Earlier this month, the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), which Davis chairs, approved more than $54 million in VOCA funds to expand victim services statewide.
District attorneys and service providers underscored the urgency. Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo, president of the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association, said funding is essential for giving victims “a sense of safety and a path of healing.” Paul Lukach, CEO of the Crime Victim Center of Erie, called victim services “an economic engine for the good of all.”
The state’s VCAP program, administered by PCCD, covers costs such as medical bills, counseling, funeral expenses, and relocation. Over the past five years, it has paid more than 76,000 claims totaling $65 million across all 67 counties. The Shapiro-Davis Administration secured $5 million in state funding for VCAP in last year’s budget to address a funding gap and is seeking another $9 million infusion this year.
Advocates say the added resources are essential to maintain stability for families navigating the aftermath of crime. “The $9 million proposed for VCAP is not just another budgeted line item; it’s a lifeline for victims of crime in every urban, suburban, and rural community,” said domestic violence survivor Tiffiney Hall.
The retrospective underscores the stakes for both federal and state lawmakers as they weigh budget priorities heading into the fall.
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