Skip to main content
Congresswoman Betty McCollum logo

HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE ADOPTS MCCOLLUM-COLE AMENDMENT RESTORING TRIBAL ACCESS TO THE CRIME VICTIMS FUND

May 17, 2018

The House Appropriations Committee today adopted an amendment offered by Representatives Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) and Tom Cole (R-Okla.) that protects tribal nations across the country from a drastic cut to the supports and services they are developing to help survivors of violent crime.

"Congress has an obligation to meet the safety and justice needs of tribal nations. This amendment restores dedicated funding for tribal nationsto build the networks of crisis centers, shelters, and other services that support survivors of violence," Representative McCollum said. "I want to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, especially my Congressional Native American Caucus Co-Chair Representative Tom Cole, for working with me on this important amendment."

The McCollum-Cole Amendment, which modifies the Commerce-Justice-Science (CJS) appropriations bill, passed on a voice vote.

"Unfortunately, Indian country has some of the highest crime rates in Americaā€ˇ. This amendment ensures that the federal government and the Justice Department do more to fulfill their responsibility to combat crime and protect victims in Indian country," Representative Cole said. "I'd like to thank my colleague and fellow Native American Caucus Co-Chair Representative McCollum for helping lead the passage of this critical amendment so that tribal communities retain the right to have quality law enforcement and judicial protection."

The McCollum-Cole amendment allocates five percent of the disbursements from the Crime Victims Fund (CVF) to tribal governments. The National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence submitted a letter to the Chairman and the Ranking Member of the CJS Subcommittee supporting this five percent set-aside, showing the broad support among victims advocate groups for allowing tribal nations to continue to access the high-quality, life-saving services the CVF builds.