Legis Daily

Victims' VOICES Act

USA118th CongressS-3706| Senate 
| Updated: 7/30/2024
John Cornyn

John Cornyn

Republican Senator

Texas

Cosponsors (3)
Marsha Blackburn (Republican)Sheldon Whitehouse (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)

Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Victims' Voices Outside and Inside the Courtroom Effectiveness Act or the Victims' VOICES Act This act makes a person who has assumed a victim's rights eligible to receive restitution for certain expenses from a convicted defendant. The act applies to a person (i.e., legal guardian, representative of the victim's estate, another family member, or any other person appointed as suitable by the court) who has assumed the rights of a victim because such victim is under 18 years of age, incompetent, incapacitated, or deceased. Under the Mandatory Victims Restitution Act of 1996, federal courts must order defendants who are convicted of certain crimes to pay restitution to their victims. This restitution must include the costs to reimburse the victim for lost income and necessary child care, transportation, and other expenses incurred while participating in the investigation or prosecution of the offense or attending proceedings relating to the offense, as well as medical and nonmedical care and treatment, and other associated costs. This act specifies that, in ordering restitution, a court must order the defendant to pay restitution to a person who has assumed the victim's rights. In particular, the defendant must pay restitution to reimburse the person's necessary and reasonable costs for (1) lost income, child care, transportation, and other expenses associated with participating in the investigation or prosecution of the offense or attending proceedings relating to the offense; and (2) lost income, transportation, and other expenses associated with transporting a victim to receive medical and nonmedical care and treatment (including physical and occupational therapy and rehabilitation).

Bill Text Versions

View Text
4 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Jan 31, 2024

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 118-7170
Introduced in House
Jan 31, 2024
Introduced in Senate
Jan 31, 2024
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Feb 29, 2024
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S1090; text: CR S1090)
Feb 29, 2024
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Feb 29, 2024
Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Mar 1, 2024
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Mar 1, 2024
Received in the House.
Mar 1, 2024
Held at the desk.
Jul 22, 2024
Ms. Hageman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Jul 22, 2024
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4654-4656)
Jul 22, 2024
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 3706.
Jul 22, 2024
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
Jul 23, 2024
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4742-4743)
Jul 23, 2024
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 408 - 2 (Roll no. 361). (text: 07/22/2024 CR H4654)
View Vote
Jul 23, 2024
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jul 25, 2024
Presented to President.
Jul 30, 2024
Signed by President.
Jul 30, 2024
Became Public Law No: 118-77.
  • January 31, 2024

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 118-7170
    Introduced in House


  • January 31, 2024
    Introduced in Senate


  • January 31, 2024
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.


  • February 29, 2024
    Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S1090; text: CR S1090)


  • February 29, 2024
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.


  • February 29, 2024
    Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.


  • March 1, 2024
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • March 1, 2024
    Received in the House.


  • March 1, 2024
    Held at the desk.


  • July 22, 2024
    Ms. Hageman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.


  • July 22, 2024
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4654-4656)


  • July 22, 2024
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 3706.


  • July 22, 2024
    At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.


  • July 23, 2024
    Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4742-4743)


  • July 23, 2024
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 408 - 2 (Roll no. 361). (text: 07/22/2024 CR H4654)
    View Vote


  • July 23, 2024
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • July 25, 2024
    Presented to President.


  • July 30, 2024
    Signed by President.


  • July 30, 2024
    Became Public Law No: 118-77.

Crime and Law Enforcement

Related Bills

  • HR 118-7170: Victims' VOICES Act
Crime victims

Victims' VOICES Act

USA118th CongressS-3706| Senate 
| Updated: 7/30/2024
Victims' Voices Outside and Inside the Courtroom Effectiveness Act or the Victims' VOICES Act This act makes a person who has assumed a victim's rights eligible to receive restitution for certain expenses from a convicted defendant. The act applies to a person (i.e., legal guardian, representative of the victim's estate, another family member, or any other person appointed as suitable by the court) who has assumed the rights of a victim because such victim is under 18 years of age, incompetent, incapacitated, or deceased. Under the Mandatory Victims Restitution Act of 1996, federal courts must order defendants who are convicted of certain crimes to pay restitution to their victims. This restitution must include the costs to reimburse the victim for lost income and necessary child care, transportation, and other expenses incurred while participating in the investigation or prosecution of the offense or attending proceedings relating to the offense, as well as medical and nonmedical care and treatment, and other associated costs. This act specifies that, in ordering restitution, a court must order the defendant to pay restitution to a person who has assumed the victim's rights. In particular, the defendant must pay restitution to reimburse the person's necessary and reasonable costs for (1) lost income, child care, transportation, and other expenses associated with participating in the investigation or prosecution of the offense or attending proceedings relating to the offense; and (2) lost income, transportation, and other expenses associated with transporting a victim to receive medical and nonmedical care and treatment (including physical and occupational therapy and rehabilitation).

Bill Text Versions

View Text
4 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Jan 31, 2024

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 118-7170
Introduced in House
Jan 31, 2024
Introduced in Senate
Jan 31, 2024
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Feb 29, 2024
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S1090; text: CR S1090)
Feb 29, 2024
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Feb 29, 2024
Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Mar 1, 2024
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Mar 1, 2024
Received in the House.
Mar 1, 2024
Held at the desk.
Jul 22, 2024
Ms. Hageman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Jul 22, 2024
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4654-4656)
Jul 22, 2024
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 3706.
Jul 22, 2024
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
Jul 23, 2024
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4742-4743)
Jul 23, 2024
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 408 - 2 (Roll no. 361). (text: 07/22/2024 CR H4654)
View Vote
Jul 23, 2024
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jul 25, 2024
Presented to President.
Jul 30, 2024
Signed by President.
Jul 30, 2024
Became Public Law No: 118-77.
  • January 31, 2024

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 118-7170
    Introduced in House


  • January 31, 2024
    Introduced in Senate


  • January 31, 2024
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.


  • February 29, 2024
    Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S1090; text: CR S1090)


  • February 29, 2024
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.


  • February 29, 2024
    Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.


  • March 1, 2024
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • March 1, 2024
    Received in the House.


  • March 1, 2024
    Held at the desk.


  • July 22, 2024
    Ms. Hageman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.


  • July 22, 2024
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4654-4656)


  • July 22, 2024
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 3706.


  • July 22, 2024
    At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.


  • July 23, 2024
    Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4742-4743)


  • July 23, 2024
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 408 - 2 (Roll no. 361). (text: 07/22/2024 CR H4654)
    View Vote


  • July 23, 2024
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • July 25, 2024
    Presented to President.


  • July 30, 2024
    Signed by President.


  • July 30, 2024
    Became Public Law No: 118-77.
John Cornyn

John Cornyn

Republican Senator

Texas

Cosponsors (3)
Marsha Blackburn (Republican)Sheldon Whitehouse (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)

Judiciary Committee

Crime and Law Enforcement

Related Bills

  • HR 118-7170: Victims' VOICES Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Crime victims