Previous Legislation

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• 113th Congress
• 112th Congress
• 108th Congress
• 107th Congress
• 106th Congress
• 105th Congress
• Previous Administrations 

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Contact your Members of Congress.

Tell your congressional delegation that you support the Victims' Rights Amendment. Use one of these services to locate your congressional delegation to call, fax or email:

• U.S. Senate
• House of Representatives
• Congress.gov
• Govtrack.us

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113th Congress
House Joint Resolution 40

 

 

 

Introduced April 23, 2013
Sponsored by Reps. Trent Franks [AZ-8], Jim Costs [CA-16] and Edward Royce [CA-39 and 12 other original cosponsors.

• Text of Legislation
• Status and Summary in Congress (Congress.gov)
• Additional House Co-sponsors:
  • Rep Bentivolio, Kerry L. [MI-11]
  • Rep Calvert, Ken [CA-42]
  • Rep Chabot, Steve [OH-1]
  • Rep Cramer, Kevin [ND]
  • Rep Fleming, John [LA-4]
    
  • Rep Gosar, Paul A. [AZ-4]
  • Rep. Green, Gene [TX-29]
    
  • Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3]
  • Rep. Lowenthal, Alan [CA-47]
  • Rep. Marino, Tom [PA-10]
    
  • Rep Meadows, Mark [NC-11]
    
  • Rep Nunnelee, Alan [MS-1]
  • Rep. Ruppersberger, A Dutch [MD-2]
    
  • Rep Salmon, Matt [AZ-5]
    
  • Rep Schweikert, David [AZ-6]
  • Rep. Swalwell, Eric [CA-15]
    
  • Rep Yoder, Kevin [KS-3]
• Letters of Support
• Arizona House Memorial
• National Center for Victims of Crime
• National Organization for Victims of Crime
• National District Attorneys' Association
• Fraternal Order of Police
• Ohio Domestic Violence Network
• POMC Petition (189 signers)
• Hearing, Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, April 25, 2013
  • Subcommittee hearing transcript
  • William Montgomery, Maricopa County Attorney
  • John Gillis, crime victim, former Director, Office for Victims of Crime, U.S. Department of Justice
  • Doug Beloof, Professor, Lewis and Clark Law School and former Director, National Crime Victim Law Institute
  • Prof. Paul Cassell, submitted testimony
• Media
  • "Symbolic? Perhaps, but victims' rights deserve our attention," Bakersfield Californian, April 27, 2013
  • "Franks pushs victims' rights amendment to Constitution," Tucson Sentinel, April 26,2013
  • "Franks, Montgomery push constitutional amendment for victims' rights," AzCapitolTimes.com, April 26, 2013
  • Cronkite NewsWatch, April 25, 2013 (opens popup window)

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112th Congress

House Joint Resolution 106

[Introduced March 26, 2012]
Sponsored by Representatives Trent Franks [AZ-2] and Jim Costa [CA-20]

• Text of Legislation
• Status and Summary in Congress (Congress.gov)
• House Co-Sponsors
  

Rep. Bilbray, Brian [CA-50] Rep. Boren, Dan [OK-2] Rep. Calvert, Ken [CA-44] Rep. Chabot, Steve [OH-1] Rep. Coble, Howard [NC-6] Rep. Flake, Jeff [AZ-6] Rep. Fleming, John [LA-4] Rep. Gallegly, Elton [CA-24] Rep. Gosar, Paul [AZ-1] Rep. Lungren, Daniel [CA-3] Rep. Pence, Mike [IN-06] Rep. Quayle, Benjamin [AZ-3] Rep. Royce, Edward [CA-40] Rep. Schweikert, David [AZ-5] Rep. Swalwell, Eric [CA-15]

• House Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on the Constitution, April 26, 2012
  Written Testimony:
  • Subcommittee hearing transcript
  • Prof. Paul Cassell
    • Testimony
    • Exhibit A - "Barbarians at the Gate?" Utah Law Review
  • Brooks Douglass
  • Jesselyn McCurdy, ACLU - in opposition
• Statements by Supporters
  
• Association of Prosecuting Attorneys
• Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery
• Mothers Against Drunk Driving
• National Center for Victims of Crime
• National District Attorneys Association
• National Organization for Victim Assistance

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108th Congress

Senate Joint Resolution 1
[Introduced January 7, 2003]
Sponsored by Senators Jon Kyl and Dianne Feinstein

• Text of Legislation
• Status and Summary in Congress (Congress.gov)
  
• Senate Co-Sponsors:

Sen. Allard, Wayne [CO] Sen. Bayh, Evan [IN] Sen. Breaux, John B [LA] Sen. Bunning, Jim [KY] Sen. Chambliss, Saxby [GA] Sen. Collins, Susan [ME] Sen. Cornyn, John [TX] Sen. Craig, Larry E. [ID]

Sen. DeWine, Michael [OH] Sen. Graham, Lindsey [SC] Sen. Grassley, Charles [IA] Sen. Hagel, Chuck [NE] Sen. Hutchison, Kay Bailey [TX] Sen. Inhofe, Jim [OK] Sen. Landrieu, Mary L.[LA] Sen. Lieberman, Joseph [CT] Sen. Lincoln, Blanche [AR]

Sen. Lott, Trent [MS] Sen. McCain, John [AZ] Sen. Miller, Zell [GA] Sen. Shelby, Richard [AL] Sen. Smith, Gordon [OR] Sen. Snowe, Olympia [ME] Sen. Stevens, Ted [AK] Sen. Wyden, Ron [OR]

• Public Hearing, Senate Judiciary Committee, April 8, 2003
  • Committee hearing transcript [299 pages]
  • Assistant Attorney General Viet Dinh
  • Colleen Campbell]
  • Earlene Eason
  • Duane Lynn
  • Steven Twist
• Letter by Roberta Roper
• Speech by Sue Russell, Vermont
• Committee Report, November 7. 2003

House Joint Resolution 48
[Introduced April 10, 2003]
Sponsored by Representative Steve Chabot

• Text of Legislation
• Status and Summary in Congress (Congress.gov)

• House Co-Sponsors:

  Rep. Brady, Kevin [TX-8] Rep. Beauprez, Bob [CO-7] Rep. Diaz-Balart, Mario [FL-25] Rep. Flake, Jeff [AZ-6] Rep. Foley, Mark [FL-16] Rep. Fossella, Vito [NY-13] Rep. Gallegly, Elton [CA-24]

  Rep. Gibbons, Jim [NV-2] Rep. Green, Mark [WI-8]  Rep. Hayworth, J. D. [AZ-5] Rep. Isakson, Johnny [GA-6] Rep. Jefferson, William [LA-2] Rep. Kennedy, Mark R. [MN-6] Rep. Pryce, Deborah [OH-15]

  Rep. Renzi, Rick [AZ-1] Rep. Royce, Edward R. [CA-40] Rep. Saxton, Jim [NJ-3]  Rep. Shadegg, John B. [AZ-3] Rep. Shays, Christopher - [CT-4] Rep. Vitter, David [LA-1] Rep. Walden, Greg[OR-2]

• Introduction Statement by Rep. Chabot [PDF]
• Statement by Mille Webb, past president MADD [PDF]
• Public Hearing, House Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on the Constitution, September 30, 2003
  • Rep. Steve Chabot
  • Steve Twist [Statement]
  • Doug Beloof
  • Sharon Nolan

House Joint Resolution 10
[Introduced January 7, 2003]
Sponsored by Representative Edward Royce

Text of Legislation
Status and Summary in Congress (Congress.gov)

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107th Congress

Senate Joint Resolution 35
[Introduced April 15, 2002]
Sponsored by Senators Dianne Feinstein and Jon Kyl
Senate Co-sponsors:

Allard, Wayne Byah, Evan Breaux, John Bunning, Jim Cleland, Max Craig, Larry DeWine, Michael Frist, Bill Gramm, Phil

Hagel, Chuck Helms. Jesse Hutchinson, Tim Hutchison, Kay Bailey Inhofe,James. M. Landrieu, Mary L. Lieberman, Joseph I. Lincoln, Blanche Lott, Trent

McCain, John Miller, Zel Murkowski, Frank H. Shelby, Richard C Smith, Bill Smith, Gordon Snowe, Olympia Warner, John W. Wyden, Ron.

• Text of Legislation
• Status and Summary in Congress (Congress.gov)
• Congressional Record Statements
• Testimony of:
  • OVC Director John Gillis
  • Steve Twist
  • Roberta Roper
• Marsh Kight
• Prof. Laurence Tribe Letter of Support

House Joint Resolution 91
[Introduced May 2, 2002]
Sponsored by Representative Steve Chabot

• Status and Summary in Congress (Congress.gov)
• House Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on the Constitution
  Public Hearing, May 9, 2003
  • Committee hearing transcript
• Steve Twist - written statement
• Testimony of David Voth
• House Co-sponsors:

  Barcia, James Brady, Kevin English, Phil Flake, Jeff Fossella, Vito

  Gallegly, Elton Green, Mark Keller, Ric Kennedy, Mark. R. McNulty, Michael. R. Prycy, Deborah

  Royce, Edward R. Saxton, Jim Shays, Christopher Souder, Mark E. Walden, Gregg

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106th Congress

• Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing, St. Louis, MO, May 1, 1999 [PDF]

Senate Joint Resolution 3
[Introduced January 19, 1999]

• Versions of Resolution
  As reported by Senate Judiciary Committee
• Senate Judiciary Committee Report
• Summary and Status in Congress (Congress.gov)
• Links to Congressional Record of Floor Debate, April 25 - 27, 2000 [PDF's]
  • April 25, 2000 - [Part 1][Part 2][Part 3]
  • April 26, 2000 - - [Part 1][Part 2]
  • April 27, 2000 - [Part 1]
  • Sponsored by Senators Jon Kyl and Dianne Feinstein
  • Senate Co-sponsors:

    Biden, Joseph R., Jr. Campbell, Ben Nighthorse Craig, Larry E. Gramm, Phil Gregg, Judd Hutchinson, Y. Tim Inouye, Daniel K. Lott, Trent Murkowski, Frank H. Smith, Gordon Thurmond, Strom Warner, John W. Wyden, Ron

    Bryan, Richard H. Cleland, Max DeWine, Michael Grams, Rod Hagel, Chuck Hutchison, Kay Bailey Landrieu, Mary L. Mack, Connie Shelby, Richard C. Snowe, Olympia J. Torricelli, Robert G. Bayh, Evan Lincoln, Blanche

    Bunning, Jim Coverdell, Paul Frist, Bill Grassley, Charles E Helms, Jesse Inhofe, James M. Lieberman, Joseph I. McCain, John Smith, Bob Thomas, Craig Voinovich, George V. Reid, Harry M. Breaux, John B.



• Senate Judiciary Committee
  • Public Hearing, March 24, 1999
    • Committee hearing transcript
    • Sen. Jon Kyl
    • Marsha Kight
    • Atty. Steve Twist
    • Prof. Paul Cassell
• Congressional Reseach Service Report for Congress, May 12, 2000

House Joint Resolution 64
[Introduced August 4, 1999]

• Text of Resolution [PDF]
• Bill Status and Summary (Congress.gov)
• Subcommittee on the Constitution
  Public Hearing, February 10, 2000
  • Rep. Steve Chabot
  • Steve Twist
  • Dr. Marlene Young
  • Andrea Rehkamp

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105th Congress

Senate Joint Resolution 44
[Introduced April 1, 1998]
• Versions of Resolution
  • Introduced: S. J. Res. 44is [[PDF]
  • Reported from Committee: S.J. Res 44rs [PDF]
• Senate Judiciary Committee Report [PDF]
  • Executive Business Meeting July 7, 1998 vote on S.J. Res. 44:

• Voting Yes (11)	Voting No (6)	Not Voting (1)
  Hatch (R-UT) Thurmond (R-SC) Grassley (R-IA) Kyl (R-AZ) DeWine (R-OH) Sessions (R-AL) Ashcroft (R-MO) Abraham (R-MI) Biden (D-DE) Feinstein (D-CA) Torricelli (D-NJ)	Thompson (R-TN) Leahy (D-VT) Kennedy (D-MA) Kohl (D-WI) Feingold (D-WI) Durbin (D-IL)	Specter (R-PA)

• Public Hearing Testimony, April 28, 1998
  • Prof. Paul Cassell
  • Atty. Steve Twist

Sponsors
Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ)

Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)

Senate Co-Sponsors
Joseph Biden  Trent Lott  Strom Thurmond  Robert Torricelli  John Breaux  Charles Grassley  Michael DeWine  Wendell Ford  Harry Reid  Phil Gramm	Connie Mack  Mary Landrieu  Max Cleland  Paul Coverdell  Larry Craig  Daniel Inouye  Richard Bryan  Olympia Snowe  Craig Thomas  John Warner	Joseph Lieberman  Wayne Allard  Kay Hutchison  Al D'Amato  Richard Shelby  Ben Nighthorse Campbell  Dan Coats  Lauch Faircloth  Bill Frist  Bob Smith	Ron Wyden Judd Gregg  Charles Hagel  Jesse Helms  Gordon Smith  Tim Hutchinson  James Inhofe  Frank Murkowski  Christopher Bond  Rod Grams

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Senate Joint Resolution 6
[Introduced January 21, 1997]
• Text of Resolution
• Status in Congress (Congress.gov)

Sponsors
Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ)

• Sen. Kyl's Congressional Record Statement on Introduction of S.J.Res. 6 [PDF]

Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)

 

Senate Co-Sponsors
John Breaux  James Inhofe  Phil Gramm  Daniel Inouye  Dan Coats  Kay Hutchison  Richard Shelby  Mary Landrieu	Lauch Faircloth  Michael DeWine  Paul Coverdell  John Warner  Wayne Allard  Larry Craig  Tim Hutchinson  Bill Frist	Frank Murkowski  Charles Grassley  Al D'Amato  Robert Torricelli  Harry Reid  Max Cleland  Connie Mack  Gordon Smith	Jesse Helms  Joseph Lieberman  Craig Thomas  Richard Bryan  Judd Gregg  Charles Hagel  Ben Nighthorse Campbell  Strom Thurmond  Bob Smith

• Senate Judiciary Committee
  • April 16, 1997 Hearing
    Click here to view C-Span video of entire hearing (3:31).
    • Marsha Kight, survivor of bombing victim
    • James Doyle, Wisconsin Attorney General
    • Carla Stovall, Kansas, Attorney General
    • Barbara LaWall, Pima Co, Arizona, District Attorney
    • Prof. Paul Cassell, Univ. of Utah
    • Rick Romley, Maricopa, AZ County Attorney [statement submitted May 12, 1997]
  • April 23, 1996 Hearing Testimony
  • Prof. Paul Cassell, Univ. of Utah
  • Robert Preston, Co-Chair, NVCAN
  • Rita Goldsmith, POMC
  • Ralph Hubbard, NY POMC

Congressional Record

• Statement by Sen. Jon Kyl on Introduction of S.J.Res 52 (April 22, 1996)
• Statement by Sen. Jon Kyl on Introduction of S.J.Res. 65 (September 30, 1996)
• Statement by Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Introduction of S.J. Res. 65 (September 30, 1996)

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House of Representatives

• House Joint Resolution 71
  • Text of H.J.Res. 71
  • Status in Congress (Congress.gov)
• H.R. 1322 (Implementing Legislation)
  • Bill Text
  • Status in Congress (Congress.gov)

Sponsor
Rep. Henry Hyde (R-IL)

Hyde Urges Enactment of Crime Victims' Rights Law

House Co-Sponsors
Deborah Pryce  James Barcia  Ed Royce  Robert Stump  Sonny Bono  James P. Moran  Stephen Horn	Susan Molinari  Gary Condit  Kevin Brady  Mark Foley  Clifford Stearns  Elton Gallegly	Ileana Ros-Lehtinen  Frank LoBiondo  Don Young.  Jim Saxton  George Gekas  Robert Wexler	Matt Salmon  J. D. Hayworth  John Shadegg  Sue Myrick  Steve Chabot  Brad Sherman  Mac Collins

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Bush Administration President Bush endorses VRA (April 16, 2002) Background Information
Clinton Administration President Clinton Statement Briefing Paper(June 25, 1996) Transcript of President's October 26, 1996 Radio Address President's Memorandum to the Attorney General on Victims Rights (June 27, 1996)