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Home / News / MC USA signs letter to Congress, asking for strengthened funding for Victims of Crime Act grants
Jan 31 2024

MC USA signs letter to Congress, asking for strengthened funding for Victims of Crime Act grants

ELKHART, Indiana (Mennonite Church USA) — Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) has signed a letter to Congress, along with 62 faith-based organizations, asking for strengthened funding for Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grants. VOCA grants are the primary source of federal funding for victim services, including programs supporting victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, stalking, human trafficking, elder abuse, community violence, homicide and other crimes. 

The letter was written by the Interfaith Coalition Against Domestic And Sexual Violence, an organization convened by Jewish Women International that works to advocate for national legislation and public policies that protect all people from domestic and sexual violence, with particular concern for women and families. 

“Victims of crime often experience devastating losses that can leave people feeling that their world has been turned upside down,” said Lorraine Stutzman Amstutz, MC USA denominational minister of Peace and Justice. “The crisis of victimization can affect a person’s physical, mental, emotional and spiritual being. VOCA money provides states with the necessary funding to address the needs of victims in tangible ways and can include restorative justice opportunities, if appropriate,” she added.  

The letter reads:  

Dear Member of Congress, 

We, the undersigned sixty-two faith-based organizations, come together to express our strong support for bridge funding to bolster Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grants. Our faith traditions teach us the importance of standing with those who are vulnerable, offering solace to the afflicted, and working towards the restoration of individuals and communities. VOCA grants are the primary source of federal funding for victim services, including programs supporting victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, stalking, human trafficking, elder abuse, community violence, homicide, and other crimes. 

VOCA grants are funded by monetary penalties associated with federal criminal cases. 

Unusually low annual deposits into VOCA’s Crime Victim’s Fund (CVF) led Congress to pass the VOCA Fix to Sustain the Crime Victims Fund Act of 2021 (VOCA Fix), which directed monetary penalties associated with deferred- and non-prosecution agreements into the Crime Victims Fund, supplementing the statute’s original deposit of monetary penalties resulting exclusively from criminal convictions. While the VOCA Fix has increased annual deposits substantially, they have been insufficient to fully make up for the shortfall. 

In our work, we witness the far-reaching impact of experiencing interpersonal violence and the urgent need for compassionate assistance. VOCA-funded programs are critical to the healing process. By extending a helping hand, VOCA aligns with the core tenets common to all our faiths that call us to love our neighbors, seek justice, and bring comfort to those in need. However, due to continued below-average deposits, VOCA grants will be cut by a staggering $700 million next year.

Victim service providers cannot absorb a cut of this magnitude. FY2023 VOCA grants were already the lowest since 2014, and an additional decrease of $700 million would be nothing short of devastating. Many programs will be forced to close, and others will have to cut services and turn away victims in need. Victims and survivors will not have access to safety and healing, and staff who have dedicated their lives to the well-being of others will lose their livelihoods. 

These cuts will fall hardest on the communities that already have the least – rural communities, low-income communities, communities of color, and other underserved communities. The services supported by VOCA not only aid individual victims but also contribute to the health and resilience of our entire community. 

We urge Congress to maintain the annual VOCA cap at $1.9 billion for FY2024 while not cutting other critical programs that support victims and survivors. This bridge funding will provide much-needed stability for victims and for victim service providers while Congress, the Administration, and stakeholders investigate the cause of the continued shortfalls and identify and implement longer-term solutions. 

As faith-based organizations, we recognize the importance of government initiatives that complement our efforts, working together to build a society where compassion, justice, and faith converge for the betterment of our communities. Thank you for your attention to this matter and for your service to our community. May your efforts be guided by wisdom, compassion, and a steadfast commitment to the well-being of all. Please direct any questions to rgraber@jwi.org. 

Sincerely, 

National and international organizations: 

Catholic Charities USA 

Catholics for Family Peace 

Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, U.S. Provinces 

Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa 

ECC Love Mercy Do Justice 

Faith in Public Life Action 

Faith Leaders for Ending Gun Violence 

Franciscan Action Network 

Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters, USA-JPIC 

Jewish Women International 

John J. Brunetti Human Trafficking Academy, The 

Keshet 

Living Waters of Hope 

Maryknoll Sisters Eastern Region 

Mennonite Church USA 

National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd 

National Council of Jewish Women 

Nuns Against Gun Violence 

Office of Peace, Justice, and Ecological Integrity/Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth 

Pax Christi USA 

Presbyterian Church USA Office of Public Witness 

Safe Havens Interfaith Partnership Against Domestic Violence and Elder Abuse 

Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia 

Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Justice Team 

Sojourners 

Texas Impact 

Union for Reform Judaism 

United Methodist Church, The — General Board of Church and Society 

Women of Reform Judaism 

Regional (multi-state), state, and local organizations: 

Advocacy and Action Board of the BWCUMC, The  

Asbury United Methodist Church, DC 

Board of Church in Society of First Congregational Church of Houston, TX 

Bound for Better, advocates for Domestic Violence, MD 

Calvary Church, UM, MA 

Congregation Beth Israel, Social Justice Committee, TX 

Church of St. Andrew, Episcopal, MA 

Divine Redeemer Presbyterian Church, TX 

Earth Care, St Andrews Presbyterian, Austin 

First Parish in Wayland, MA 

Franciscan Peace Center, IA 

Good Shepherd Shelter, CA 

Grace United Church of Christ, TX 

JCADA 

JCFS Chicago, IL 

Jewish Family & Children’s Service, MA  

Jewish Family Service Association of Cleveland, OH 

Living Word Lutheran Church, TX 

Methodist Action Program, DE 

SHALVA, IL 

Sisters of Charity of New York, NY 

Sisters of Charity Office of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation 

Social Justice Committee, Congregation Beth Israel, TX 

St Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church, MA 

St. John’s Episcopal Church, MA 

Temple B’nai Abraham, MA 

Temple Emeth, MA 

Temple Ner Tamid of the North Shore, MA 

Temple Sinai (DC) Gun Violence Prevention Group, DC 

Texas Unitarian Universalist Justice Ministry, TX 

University Presbyterian Church Austin, TX 

University United Methodist Church, TX 

Wilshire Baptist Church, TX 

By Christle Hain

Mennonite Church USA is an Anabaptist Christian denomination, founded in 2002 by the merger of the Mennonite Church and the General Conference Mennonite Church. Members of this historic peace church seek to follow Jesus by rejecting violence and resisting injustice. MC USA’s Renewed Commitments state the following shared commitments among its diverse body of believers: to follow Jesus, witness to God’s peace and experience the transformation of the Holy Spirit. Mennoniteusa.org

Lea la versión en inglés aquí.

  • Posted in News, Peace and Justice
  • Tagged Interfaith Coalition Against Domestic And Sexual Violence, Jewish Women International, Lorraine Stutzman Amstutz, peace and justice, Victims of Crime Act (VOCA)
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