Reynolds, Bird announce $5.5 million in victim services funding after federal cuts

Gov. Kim Reynolds is allocating $5.5 million for services to crime victims after federal budget cuts. (Photo by Kathie Obradovich/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and Attorney General Brenna Bird pledged Monday to provide $5.5 million in one-time bridge funding to keep services available for Iowa crime victims after Congress made budget cuts to federal victims services funding.

Earlier this year, Congress lowered the spending cap on the Victim of Crimes Act (VOCA) fund to $1.2 billion — a $700 million cut from the previous year. Federal VOCA funding was a major source depended on by nonprofits and organizations nationwide that provide services for crime victims like medical and mental health care, courtroom advocacy and temporary housing.

In Iowa, the reduced VOCA funding resulted in a loss of more than $5.4 million for Iowa victims services — a 42% reduction from in the state’s funding, according to a news release from the Iowa Attorney General’s office. To make up for that gap in funding, the state plans to use $5.5 million from Iowa’s State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund — part of the American Rescue Plan Act — as a one-time spending measure to make up for the federal budget cut.

In the current fiscal year, more than 50 Iowa non-profit organizations received VOCA-funded grants to provide assistance for both adult and children crime victims through the Iowa Attorney General’s Victim Assistance Grant Program, according to the news release. The grant program had a total fund of $22.6 million, with $13.9 million in VOCA funding.

Reynolds said in a statement that the funding is needed to ensure Iowa victim services can continue to operate.

“Without adequate federal funding, states have two options: reduce victim services or find a way to cover the gap,” Reynolds stated. “Victims of crime deserve our full support of their recovery, and we will continue to ensure they have the services they need in Iowa.”

Iowa is not the only state grappling with how to make up lost federal funding for victims services. Lawmakers in multiple states, including California, Colorado and Maine, proposed bills this year to set up new state-based funding for these services

During Iowa’s 2024 legislative session, lawmakers did not increase victim services funding , but discussed the need to provide emergency stopgap funding for victim services when the Legislature reconvenes in January 2025 to make up for the budget change. Current VOCA funding is set to continue through the federal fiscal year until Sept. 30, 2024.

Bird thanked Reynolds for providing funding for victims services in Iowa, saying that the federal cuts will have a disproportionate impact on rural communities.

“As a prosecutor, I work with victims and see the devastating reality of losing victim services. And spreading providers thin by making them do a lot with limited resources,” Bird said.

She said in some states, the federal cuts would mean a reduction of services to rural and small counties, cuts to victims’ hotlines, and elimination of options for in-person services such as victim-witness coordinators. “But in Iowa, we are leading to put victims first. … With these dollars, we will ensure victims have the resources they need as they work to heal and rebuild their lives.”