Criminal-supported funding for child abuse prevention programs will double next year under a new law passed by Congress last week.

Rep. Mac Collins, Fayette's representative in the House, hailed the increased funding as a way to “make criminals pay to fight child abuse.”

The Child Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Act passed 425-2. The bill allows doubling the amount for child abuse prevention programs under the Crime Victim's Fund from $10 million to $20 million, said Collins.

“The Crime Victim's Fund received $363 million in 1998,” Collins said. “This money came from forfeited bail bonds, forfeited assets, and fines. If this amount increases above $363 million, half of every dollar, up to $10 million, goes toward fighting child abuse. That would provide a total of $20 million against child abuse.”

The bill also allows existing grants to be used to help states provide social workers with improved access to criminal conviction records based on claims of child or domestic abuse. It also lets states use federal funds to enforce child abuse and neglect laws, as well as fund programs to prevent child abuse.

“This law does not mandate state enforcement of law, but gives each state greater flexibility in designing its response to the problem of child abuse,” Collins said. “I believe that every time you provide local communities with resources, as well as the freedom to solve their problems their own way, you get better solutions.”