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United States · Law · S

S. 3706 (118th)

Victims' VOICES Act

enactedUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

31 January 2024

Last action

30 July 2024 · President

Status

Became Public Law No: 118-77.

Sponsors

Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX], Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT], Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN], Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]

Subjects

Discovery layer

Source updated

10 August 2026

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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).

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 31 January 2024

    Introduced

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 31 January 2024

    Introduced

    Introduced in Senate

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 29 February 2024

    Passed

    Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S1090; text: CR S1090)

    Source: Floor

  4. 29 February 2024

    Passed

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

    Source: Floor

  5. 29 February 2024

    Discharge

    Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.

    Source: Discharge

  6. 29 February 2024

    Committee

    Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.

    Source: Committee

  7. 1 March 2024

    Floor

    Held at the desk.

    Source: Floor

  8. 1 March 2024

    Floor

    Received in the House.

    Source: Floor

  9. 1 March 2024

    Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

    Source: Floor

  10. 22 July 2024

    Floor

    Ms. Hageman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

    Source: Floor

  11. 22 July 2024

    Floor

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4654-4656)

    Source: Floor

  12. 22 July 2024

    Vote

    At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

    Source: Floor

  13. 22 July 2024

    Floor

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 3706.

    Source: Floor

  14. 23 July 2024

    Passed

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

    Source: Floor

  15. 23 July 2024

    Vote

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 408 - 2 (Roll no. 361). (text: 07/22/2024 CR H4654)

    Source: Floor

  16. 23 July 2024

    Vote

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 408 - 2 (Roll no. 361). (text: 07/22/2024 CR H4654)

    Source: Floor

  17. 23 July 2024

    Floor

    Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4742-4743)

    Source: Floor

  18. 25 July 2024

    Floor

    Presented to President.

    Source: Floor

  19. 25 July 2024

    President

    Presented to President.

    Source: President

  20. 30 July 2024

    Became law

    Signed by President.

    Source: BecameLaw

  21. 30 July 2024

    Became law

    Became Public Law No: 118-77.

    Source: President

  22. 30 July 2024

    President

    Signed by President.

    Source: President

Votes

23 July 2024 · passed · On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass · Passed · Official source

Yes 408 · No 2 · Abstain — · Absent/not voting 21

Showing the first 4 recorded positions. Vote totals above are complete.

Versions

Documents

10 official files

Enrolled Bill (text)

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  • Enrolled Bill (text)

    Enrolled Bill · EN

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  • Enrolled Bill (PDF)

    Enrolled Bill · EN

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  • Public Law (text)

    Public Law · EN · 31 July 2024

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  • Public Law (PDF)

    Public Law · EN · 31 July 2024

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  • Public Law

    summary · EN · 30 July 2024

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  • Engrossed in Senate (text)

    Engrossed in Senate · EN · 29 February 2024

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  • Engrossed in Senate (PDF)

    Engrossed in Senate · EN · 29 February 2024

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  • Introduced in Senate (text)

    Introduced in Senate · EN · 31 January 2024

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  • Introduced in Senate (PDF)

    Introduced in Senate · EN · 31 January 2024

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  • Introduced in Senate

    summary · EN · 31 January 2024

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Sponsors

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Direct relationships

  • Identifier matchPROJECTS_FROM

    Same us record 118-s-3706 projected from PoliticalRepo US row.

    Victims' VOICES Act

Sources

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