Chuck Grassley: “I am going to refer to billions of dollars. I am not referring to billions of taxpayer dollars. I am visiting with you…”

“I am going to refer to billions of dollars. I am not referring to billions of taxpayer dollars. I am visiting with you about billions of crime fines that are not collected. For many years, I have addressed and pressed the Justice Department to ensure that the Crime Victims Fund has sufficient resources. That fund supports victims and survivors of crime in our hometowns and all across America. Congress established the fund to be taxpayer-neutral. Its balances are filled through criminal fines and penalties that the Justice Department collects and deposits in that Crime Victims Fund. Last Congress, my oversight revealed that the Biden Justice Department failed to collect and deposit more than $1 billion in fines and penalties. The Biden-Harris administration was weak on crime and weak on protecting victims. Since my oversight, the balance of the fund has increased from $1 billion in 2023--the lowest in over a decade--to its current balance of $3.5 billion. Last April, this Senator, along with Senators Ernst, Crapo, and Risch, sent a letter to the Justice Department. In that letter, we urged the Justice Department to avoid the failures of the Biden administration. In June 2025, the Justice Department updated its policies to prioritize vindicating the rights of victims. It is a step in the right direction.”