Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons
WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), co-chairs of the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus, introduced bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Victims of Child Abuse Act (VOCAA). The law, first enacted in 1990, provides the only dedicated source of funding for Children’s Advocacy Centers, which bring together teams of law enforcement, medical personnel, and service providers to ensure the best outcome for child victims and help hold perpetrators responsible for their crimes. Companion legislation will soon be introduced in the House by U.S. Representatives Jim Costa (D-Calif.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), and Ann Wagner (R-Mo.).
“The Victims of Child Abuse Act protects children who have been abused and brings their abusers to justice,” said Senator Coons. “The law provides resources for Children’s Advocacy Centers that provide a safe and supportive space for these children and help law enforcement conduct investigations faster, more efficiently, and at lower cost. I hope Republicans and Democrats can come together once again to extend and expand this critical program.”
“In 2021, Children’s Advocacy Centers served nearly 10,000 of Missouri’s most vulnerable children,” said Senator Blunt. “Reauthorizing this program will provide much-needed resources to help Children’s Advocacy Centers and law enforcement coordinate the investigation, treatment, and prosecution of child abuse cases. I urge all of my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill to help keep kids safe and bring perpetrators to justice.”
“National Children’s Alliance not only thanks Senators Coons and Blunt for their leadership in introducing the Victims of Child Abuse Act Reauthorization Act of 2022, but also in leading the charge for Children’s Advocacy Centers on Capitol Hill,” said Teresa Huizar, Chief Executive Officer of National Children’s Alliance. “By reauthorizing and updating the Act to help better provide for the needs of the kids and families we serve in our centers, Congress once again demonstrates it believes and values the effectiveness of the Children’s Advocacy Center model in helping abused children find healing and justice when they need it most.”
Senators Coons and Blunt have previously succeeded in reauthorizing the Victims of Child Abuse Act, first in 2014 and again in 2018. VOCAA programs are now set to expire next year without reauthorization, so it must again be extended by Congress.
One of VOCAA’s key components is to fund Children’s Advocacy Centers, which provide a skilled team of trained professionals to conduct forensic interviews of children who have been victims of abuse. Such interviews are intended to be used as evidence in court while also preventing children from being required to repeat their accounts multiple times. Children’s Advocacy Centers allow for faster criminal charging decisions in sexual abuse cases, increased felony prosecutions of child sexual abuse, and lower average case costs.
In addition to Senators Coons and Blunt, cosponsors include Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).
The bill has garnered widespread support from law enforcement groups, including the Fraternal Order of Police, National District Attorneys Association, National Association of Police Organizations, Major County Sheriffs of America, Major Cities Chiefs Association, and Sergeants Benevolent Association NYPD.
The bill is also endorsed by child advocacy groups, including the National Children’s Alliance, National Children’s Advocacy Center, Northeast Regional Children’s Advocacy Center, Midwest Regional Children’s Advocacy Center, Western Regional Children’s Advocacy Center, and Southern Regional Children’s Advocacy Center.
The bill text is available here.
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