Why it Matters
Congress is preparing to examine whether federal law does enough to protect crime victims, with the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance scheduled to hold a hearing preview April 2026 session on April 29 titled "Peace of Mind: Strengthening Victim Protections Under Kayleigh's Law." The hearing arrives as victim advocacy organizations have been flooding Capitol Hill with lobbying activity, and as members of both parties have been pushing a range of legislation to bolster protections for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse.
The Policy Landscape
The broader victim protection legislation environment on Capitol Hill has been active heading into this congressional hearing schedule. In the first quarter of 2026 alone, a range of advocacy organizations filed lobbying disclosures targeting victim services funding and survivor protections.
The National Alliance to End Sexual Violence spent $10,000 lobbying on the Healing Partnerships for Survivors Act, which would authorize grant programs supporting partnerships between sexual assault survivor programs and mental health organizations, as well as on the Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act. The National Domestic Violence Hotline filed two disclosures totaling $50,000, covering the Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act of 2026 and provisions related to connected vehicle safety for survivors.
Jewish Women International has been working with lawmakers to introduce a bill that would notify victims when a domestic abuser fails a firearms background check, while also lobbying for the Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act. Giffords: Courage to Fight Gun Violence, which spent $40,000 in the first quarter, has been pushing the Zero Tolerance for Domestic Abusers Act alongside broader gun background check system reforms.
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which spent nearly $1.4 million in the first quarter, has been lobbying on the Safe Vehicle Access for Survivors Act, legislation designed to ensure domestic violence survivors can access their own vehicles. The National Children's Alliance spent $100,000 on the Victims of Crime Act and the Victims of Child Abuse Act, while the Zero Abuse Project has been pushing for reauthorization of the Victims of Child Abuse Act and the RISE from Trauma Act.
The Committee
The hearing preview April 2026 session will be chaired by Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), with Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA) serving as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance. The full Judiciary Committee is chaired by Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH).
McBath has been vocal on related issues in the weeks leading up to the hearing. In an April 17 post, she stated, "Guns are the leading cause of death for our kids... The American people deserve better from their leaders." Jordan, meanwhile, has focused his recent communications on immigration-related crime, citing victims whose "futures were stolen by criminal illegal aliens."
On the legislative side, Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) introduced the Rape Shield Enhancement Act, stating, "Right now, survivors of sexual assault can be forced to relive their trauma in court," and separately introduced the Restoring Law and Order on America's Streets Act to expand Department of Justice civil commitment authority for individuals deemed dangerous to public safety.
Kayleigh's Law and Victim Notification
The committee hearing is framed around Kayleigh's Law, though the specific legislative text had not been identified in the available committee records as of publication. Victim notification legislation, broadly speaking, has been a consistent focus of advocacy organizations this cycle. Jewish Women International's lobbying specifically targets notification mechanisms when domestic abusers fail background checks, a concept that aligns with the broader framework of keeping victims informed about threats to their safety.
The National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association spent $20,000 lobbying on the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act reauthorization and VOCA funding, while Childhelp Inc. spent $30,000 on national child abuse hotline operations and prevention education. Voices for Children and Youth Collaboratory have both been active on VOCA funding and the Office for Victims of Crime appropriations.
The Political Context
The hearing arrives as Congress grapples with broader federal funding pressures that directly affect victim services. Multiple organizations lobbying ahead of this committee hearing have flagged concerns about FY2026 and FY2027 appropriations for programs under VAWA, VOCA, and related statutes. Cuts or flat funding to the Crime Victims Fund would ripple directly into the services that survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse rely on.
The Giffords PAC, the political arm of Giffords: Courage to Fight Gun Violence, has contributed $38,600 to federal candidates over the past two years, directing funds to Democrats including Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY), a subcommittee member who has been focused on civil liberties concerns in the current Congress. Goldman received $1,000 from the Giffords PAC during that period.
The hearing is scheduled for April 29 at 2:00 p.m. in 2141 Rayburn House Office Building.
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