United States · Law · S
S. 3706 (118th)
Victims' VOICES Act
Introduced
31 January 2024
Last action
—
Status
Became Public Law No: 118-77.
Sponsors
—
Subjects
Discovery layer
Source updated
10 August 2026
Summary
Victims' Voices Outside and Inside the Courtroom Effectiveness Act or the Victims' VOICES Act This bill makes a person who has assumed a victim's rights eligible to receive restitution for certain expenses from a convicted defendant. The bill applies to a person (i.e., legal guardian, representative of the victim's estate, another family member, or any other person appointed as suitable by the court) who has assumed the rights of a victim because such victim is under 18 years of age, incompetent, incapacitated, or deceased. Under the Mandatory Victims Restitution Act of 1996, federal courts must order defendants who are convicted of certain crimes to pay restitution to their victims. This restitution must include the costs to reimburse the victim for lost income and necessary child care, transportation, and other expenses incurred while participating in the investigation or prosecution of the offense or attending proceedings relating to the offense, as well as medical and nonmedical care and treatment, and other associated costs. This bill specifies that, in ordering restitution, a court must order the defendant to pay restitution to a person who has assumed the victim's rights. In particular, the defendant must pay restitution to reimburse the person's necessary and reasonable costs for (1) lost income, child care, transportation, and other expenses associated with participating in the investigation or prosecution of the offense or attending proceedings relating to the offense; and (2) lost income, transportation, and other expenses associated with transporting a victim to receive medical and nonmedical care and treatment (including physical and occupational therapy and rehabilitation).
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Timeline
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Votes
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Versions
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Documents
10 official files
Enrolled Bill (text)
Enrolled Bill (text)
Enrolled Bill · EN
Enrolled Bill (PDF)
Enrolled Bill · EN
Public Law (text)
Public Law · EN · 31 July 2024
Public Law (PDF)
Public Law · EN · 31 July 2024
Public Law
summary · EN · 30 July 2024
Engrossed in Senate (text)
Engrossed in Senate · EN · 29 February 2024
Engrossed in Senate (PDF)
Engrossed in Senate · EN · 29 February 2024
Introduced in Senate (text)
Introduced in Senate · EN · 31 January 2024
Introduced in Senate (PDF)
Introduced in Senate · EN · 31 January 2024
Introduced in Senate
summary · EN · 31 January 2024
Sponsors
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Related records
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Sources
PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.
- Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/3706
- Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/118/s/3706