Outbreak of Bipartisanship in D.C.!: Evans welcomes growing support for VICTIM Act

Congressman Dwight Evans (D-PA-3rd) is co-leading a $360 million anti-crime and victim aid bill that has picked up bipartisan support in both the House and Senate.

- Congressman Dwight Evans

"I'm proud to co-lead this bipartisan bill that would help our state and local police solve more fatal and non-fatal shooting cases. This would be a huge win for public safety in Philadelphia and across the country - district attorneys can't bring cases that don't reach them, so this would help make our neighborhoods safer," Evans said. "As someone who has pushed for help for victims of gun violence, I'm also very pleased that this bill would provide victims and family members with mental health resources and assistance with shelter, wage, and relocation costs." 

"We have serious differences in the closely divided Congress, but I have been able to work with my colleagues from both parties and stakeholders like the Niskanen Center to reintroduce the VICTIM Act, now with bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate!" Evans said.

Evans said he hopes the bill can build on the recent overwhelmingly bipartisan House passage (357-70) of a bill that would expand the Child Tax Credit and Low-Income Housing Tax Credit. That bill is pendingmin the Senate.

Evans said the VICTIM (Violent Incident Clearance and Technological Investigative Methods) Act is designed to improve clearance rates for homicides and violent gun crimes by allocating funds for:

Hiring and retaining detectives and evidence-processing personnel to investigate and solve homicides and violent gun crimes;

Acquiring, upgrading, or replacing investigative, evidence-processing, or forensic testing technology or equipment;

Training detectives and personnel in effective procedures and techniques;

Developing evidence-based practices to improve clearance rates; and,

Ensuring victims and family members of homicide victims receive mental health treatment, grief counseling, relocation support, emergency shelter, and transportation.