Evans Reintroduces $360 Million Anti-Crime, Pro-Victim Bill

PHILADELPHIA (May 13, 2026) - Congressman Dwight Evans (D-PA-3) has reintroduced a $360 million anti-crime and victim aid bill with bipartisan support in both the House and Senate.

Evans' bill, the Violent Incident Clearance and Technological Investigative Methods (VICTIM) Act, would establish a grant program at the Department of Justice (DOJ) to help state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to solve more crimes and improve clearance rates for homicides and firearm-related violent crimes.

The bill would authorize $60 million per year in grants for each of the next six federal fiscal years, beginning with the one that starts Oct. 1, 2026.

"This bipartisan bill would help our state and local police solve more fatal and non-fatal shooting cases. This would be a huge win for public safety in Philadelphia and across the country - district attorneys can't bring cases that don't reach them, so this would help make our neighborhoods safer," Evans said. "As someone who has pushed for help for victims of gun violence, I'm also very pleased that this bill would provide victims and family members with mental health resources and assistance with shelter, wage, and relocation costs."

"The VICTIM Act will provide law enforcement with the funding, training, and technology needed to solve more homicide and non-fatal shooting cases. By helping agencies investigate these serious crimes more effectively, this legislation will deliver justice for victims' families, support the officers working these cases, and strengthen public safety across Nebraska," said Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), the lead House Republican co-sponsor.

In the Senate, the bill's lead sponsors are Sens. John Kennedy (R-LA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ).

"When our heroes in blue do not have the resources to solve violent crimes, families and communities pay the price. In Louisiana and across America, too many police departments are being asked to fight today's violent criminals with yesterday's tools. The VICTIM Act would give law enforcement the key financial and technical support they need to put violent criminals behind bars and deliver justice for victims," Kennedy said.

Booker said, "Solving violent crime is the most powerful deterrent we have, and it starts with giving law enforcement what they actually need: detectives, forensic technology, and investigative training. When murders go unsolved, it denies victims and their communities justice, signals that authorities don't care about public safety, and leaves perpetrators without consequences. With nearly half of homicide cases remaining unsolved, we cannot afford to keep shortchanging law enforcement. I am proud to reintroduce this bipartisan legislation, which dedicates critical resources to improve clearance rates so that law enforcement can solve these cases and every family gets the accountability they deserve."

The VICTIM Act would help law enforcement:

• Train detectives and police personnel to investigate, solve, and respond to homicides and non-fatal shootings.
• Hire additional detectives and investigative personnel.
• Invest in technology needed to solve crimes.
• Train police personnel to address the needs of victims and family members of homicides and firearm-related violent crimes.
• Provide victims and family members with mental health resources and temporary assistance.

The bill would also require recipients of VICTIM Act grants to report how they use the funds to the DOJ, which would collect and provide that information to Congress.

The full text of the VICTIM Act is available here.

Evans represents the 3rd Congressional District, which includes Northwest and West Philadelphia and parts of North, South, Southwest and Center City Philadelphia. Evans' website is evans.house.gov and his social media handle is @RepDwightEvans on Youtube, Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads.