Information from the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault
The National Center for Victims of Crime (NCVC) recently sent out the following alert:

We need your help! Congress is considering a proposal that improves collection of state court restitution orders by allowing courts to attach a defendant’s federal income tax refund.
The measure — Senate Bill 1287, co-sponsored by Senators Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Gordon Smith (R-OR) and House Bill 6172, co-sponsored by Ron Kind (D-WI) and Jim Ramstad (R-MN)– would allow states to collect past-due state court debt (restitution, fines, and fees) from federal income tax refunds. State child support orders and federal restitution orders can already be collected this way. Its important that Congress passes this legislation this year.
Please call your senators and representatives today! Ask them to sign on as a co-sponsor of either S. 1287 or H.R. 6172.
1) Tell the congressional staffer your name and the name of your program and why you have interest in the issue. Say you are calling to urge the Senator or Representative to co-sponsor this bipartisan legislation.
2) Tell the staffer why restitution collection is so important to your community and to crime victims, and be sure to mention how few victims receive the full amount of their restitution.
If you don’t know how to reach your Senator or Representative, visit www.senate.gov and/or www.house.gov or call the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121, and they will connect you.
If you have any questions, please contact Susan Howley, Director of Public Policy at (202) 467-8722 or showley@ncvc.org .
Thanks for your help on this important issue!