Six Questions About Thursday's Markup of Bill to Reauthorize Victims of Child Abuse Act

Press Release

The Senate Judiciary Committee will take up bipartisan legislation Thursday to reauthorize the Victims of Child Abuse Act (VOCAA), which provides funding for Children's Advocacy Centers that serve child abuse victims and help law enforcement hold perpetrators accountable. The VOCAA Reauthorization Act of 2013 was introduced in December by U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), co-chairs of the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus, and Senators Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii).

In advance of the Committee markup, here are answers to six key questions about the bill:

1. What does the bill do?

The VOCAA Reauthorization Act of 2013 reauthorizes a program enacted by Congress in 1990 to fund 800 Children's Advocacy Centers across the U.S. The bill will modestly increase authorization levels for Children's Advocacy Centers for the first time since the VOCAA was enacted. The reauthorization would also strengthen the programs through enhanced accountability provisions, non-profit requirements and limitations on conference expenditures.

2. How much does it cost?

Acknowledging current fiscal constraints, the VOCAA Reauthorization Act of 2013 authorizes increased funding of up to $22.5 million -- up from $20 million -- for the first time in more than two decades. This moderate increase is still below an amount that would keep pace with inflation and population growth.

3. How has it been funded?

Congressional authorization for Children's Advocacy Centers lapsed in 2005, but until recently, requests for subsequent funding have been included in the President's budgets and consistently provided through the appropriations process. In the last three years, however, the President's proposed budgets have either zeroed out or significantly cut federal funding for the VOCAA. The 2015 budget proposal cut funding by $8 million, but as in previous years, Senator Coons and others on the Appropriations Committee fought to restore it.

4. What, exactly, are Children's Advocacy Centers?

Children's Advocacy Centers employ a multi-disciplinary team of trained professionals to conduct forensic interviews of children who have been victims of abuse. These interviews are designed to be admissible in court, preventing children from being re-traumatized by having to tell their stories multiple times. In 2012 alone, more than 286,000 children were served at 800 Children's Advocacy Centers across the United States, with more than 197,000 cases reporting sexual abuse. Their use in child abuse cases saved, on average, $1,000 per case in court, child protection, and investigative fees.

5. Who has sponsored it?

U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii).

6. Who has endorsed it?

The National Association of Police Organizations, Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, Major County Sheriffs' Association, National Criminal Justice Training Center, Major Cities Chiefs' Association, National Children's Alliance, National Children's Advocacy Center, National Center for Victims of Crime, Sergeants Benevolent Association of the New York City Police Department, and the National Child Protection Training Center.

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