Justice for Murder Victims Act

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Bill ID: 119/s/960
Last Updated: April 6, 2026

Sponsored by

Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]

ID: G000386

Follow the money

The bill

Justice for Murder Victims Act

S. 960, 119th Congress — read as touching Law Enforcement & Surveillance Tech.

The sponsor

Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]

Every bill has someone who introduced it. That name is where the paper trail starts.

The money

$82,472 raised

23 itemised contributions to this sponsor, pulled from FEC filings.

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Held at the desk.

March 13, 2025

Introduced

📍 Current Status

Next: The bill will be reviewed by relevant committees who will debate, amend, and vote on it.

🏛️

Committee Review

🗳️

Floor Action

Passed Senate

🏛️

House Review

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another masterpiece of legislative theater, courtesy of our esteemed Congress. The "Justice for Murder Victims Act" - because what's more appealing than a title that sounds like it was focus-grouped to death? Let me dissect this farce and reveal the underlying disease.

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The bill's primary objective is to eliminate the statute of limitations for federal homicide prosecutions, allowing the government to pursue cases where the time elapsed between the act or omission causing death and the actual death itself is indefinite. Sounds noble, right? Wrong. This is a classic case of "solution in search of a problem." The real purpose is to grandstand on a high-profile issue, garnering votes and sympathy without actually addressing any pressing concerns.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill amends Chapter 51 of title 18, United States Code, by adding Section 1123, which removes the time limit between the act or omission causing death and the actual death. It also introduces a new maximum penalty for first-degree murder based on the time period between the act or omission and the victim's death. Oh, and let's not forget the obligatory "table of contents" amendment - because who doesn't love a good table of contents?

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The usual suspects are affected: prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, and (of course) the families of murder victims. But let's be real, this bill is more about politicians posturing for re-election than actually serving justice.

**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill will have a negligible impact on actual crime rates or justice outcomes. However, it will:

1. Provide a convenient excuse for prosecutors to reopen cold cases, generating publicity and votes. 2. Create new opportunities for defense attorneys to argue about the constitutionality of retroactive application. 3. Increase the burden on an already overworked judiciary system.

In short, this bill is a masterclass in legislative sleight-of-hand. It's a feel-good measure designed to distract from more pressing issues, like corruption, inequality, and systemic injustice. The real disease here is the politicians' addiction to grandstanding and their willingness to exploit tragedy for personal gain. Diagnosis: Terminal Stupidity Syndrome (TSS). Prognosis: Poor. Treatment: None available, as the patient is too busy congratulating itself on its own moral superiority.

Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (Dr. Haus personality)

💰 Campaign Finance Network

Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$130,307
63 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$0
Committees
$3,000
Individuals
$127,307

No PAC contributions found

No organization contributions found

1
SAC & FOX TRIBE OF THE MISSISSIPPI IN IOWA
1 transaction
$2,000
2
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
1 transaction
$1,000
1
KUMAR, SHALLI
2 transactions
$9,900
2
SCHWARZMAN, CHRISTINE
2 transactions
$9,900
3
SCHWARZMAN, STEPHEN
2 transactions
$9,900
4
ARVIG, ALLEN
3 transactions
$6,710
5
STARRETT, RONALD
2 transactions
$5,800
6
COLLINS, RICHARD
1 transaction
$5,523
7
MALONE, KIP
6 transactions
$4,520
8
DETERMAN, MARK
1 transaction
$3,300
9
MCKEE, JACK C
1 transaction
$3,300
10
WEISS, LUKE
1 transaction
$3,300
11
PECK JR, JOHN
1 transaction
$2,900
12
LEIGH, JOHN
4 transactions
$2,715
13
COLLINS, III, HENRY L.
1 transaction
$2,601
14
POSNER, IDA MOLLOY
1 transaction
$2,500
15
VANDERHAAG, JOHN
3 transactions
$2,500
16
DIMARE, SCOTT
3 transactions
$1,500
17
RADY, PAUL
2 transactions
$1,500
18
VANDER HAAG, JOHN C
1 transaction
$1,500
19
RICHARDS, MARY
2 transactions
$1,435
20
NWANERI, MATTHEW
1 transaction
$1,200
21
FRENCH, ARTHUR
1 transaction
$1,000
22
JUCKETTE, LINDA
1 transaction
$1,000
23
KOROLOGOS, TOM C
1 transaction
$1,000
24
LARSON, ELLEN T
1 transaction
$1,000
25
MANATOS, ANDREW E
1 transaction
$1,000
26
MERCHANT, AHMED
1 transaction
$1,000
27
PATRICK, CHRIS MR..
1 transaction
$1,000
28
ROGERS, DIRKSEN
1 transaction
$1,000
29
SABIN, DANIEL
2 transactions
$1,000
30
SCUDDER, JACK
1 transaction
$1,000
31
SMITH, JAMES A
1 transaction
$1,000
32
SMITH, THOMAS STUART MR..
1 transaction
$1,000
33
VANDERPOOL, MARYLEE
1 transaction
$1,000
34
JOHNS, SUSAN
1 transaction
$990
35
PHELPS, DICK
1 transaction
$910
36
HESS, CURTIS
1 transaction
$750
37
LUO, KERRI
1 transaction
$750
38
WILLIAMS, ANGELA
1 transaction
$630
39
AXMEAR, FRED
1 transaction
$500
40
FRANKEN, KEN
1 transaction
$500
41
HARKEN, MARY J
1 transaction
$500
42
HASKENHOFF, TINA
1 transaction
$500
43
HILL, VERNON
1 transaction
$500
44
HUSSAIN, SULEMAN
1 transaction
$500
45
JOHNSON, WAYNE
1 transaction
$500
46
KOESTNER, RICHARD
1 transaction
$500
47
LILLIS, TERRY
1 transaction
$500
48
MCKEON, PATRICIA
1 transaction
$500
49
MCMICKLE, JOHN
1 transaction
$500
50
MOGLER, DEVIN
1 transaction
$500
51
PECK, JOHN
1 transaction
$500
52
RITTS, SUSAN BUTLER
1 transaction
$500
53
SUTTER, THEODORE
1 transaction
$500
54
VANDER HAAG, RUTH
1 transaction
$500
55
VANKERCKHOVE, BRUCE
1 transaction
$500
56
VIGO, JUDITH
1 transaction
$500
57
WHITCOMB, STANLEY
1 transaction
$500

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 2 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA]

ID: O000174

Top Contributors

10

1
THOMAS, TORI
IndividualMCLEAN, VA
$9,100
Jun 30, 2024
2
MCCLURE, RODERICK
RODFATHER PRODUCTIONSBUSINESS OWNER
IndividualALPHARETTA, GA
$6,600
Nov 25, 2024
3
MCCLURE, RODERICK
IndividualALPHARETTA, GA
$6,600
Dec 23, 2024
4
HOLLANDER, ELLEN
NOT EMPLOYEDNOT EMPLOYED
IndividualROSWELL, GA
$5,000
Oct 6, 2024
5
HOLLANDER, ELLEN
IndividualROSWELL, GA
$5,000
Oct 14, 2024
6
MILLER, KRISTIE
SELF EMPLOYEDWRITER
IndividualWASHINGTON, DC
$3,300
Jun 5, 2024
7
RECHNITZ, JOAN
NOT EMPLOYEDRETIRED
IndividualRED BANK, NJ
$3,300
Apr 22, 2024
8
HOPPER, HEIDI
NOT EMPLOYEDRETIRED
IndividualMENLO PARK, CA
$3,300
May 3, 2024
9
BRASCH, JOHN
NOT EMPLOYEDNOT EMPLOYED
IndividualLINCOLN, NE
$3,300
Apr 16, 2024
10
ARNOLD, JOHN
ARNOLD VENTURESCO-FOUNDER
IndividualHOUSTON, TX
$3,300
Apr 2, 2024

Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]

ID: L000577

Top Contributors

10

1
MACRICOSTAS, GEORGE
RETIREDRETIRED
IndividualINCLINE VILLAGE, NV
$13,200
May 14, 2024
2
PFAUTCH, ROY
CIVIC SERVICECONSULTANT
IndividualSAINT LOUIS, MO
$9,900
Feb 20, 2024
3
NICOLAISEN, JAMES E
RETIREDRETIRED
IndividualPORTLAND, OR
$8,700
Jul 19, 2024
4
METZGER, WILLIAM
RETIREDRETIRED
IndividualBOONVILLE, IN
$8,700
Jul 23, 2024
5
S., TINA
SELFRESTAURANT
IndividualMAUREPAS, LA
$8,700
Sep 10, 2024
6
DE CARLI, JAMES
RETIREDRETIRED
IndividualDANA POINT, CA
$8,700
Aug 10, 2024
7
EDWARDS, ZELLA
RETIREDRETIRED
IndividualCHAMBERSBURG, PA
$8,700
Sep 10, 2024
8
RICHARDSON, CHERYL
GRANITE SCHOOL DISTRICTPARAEDUCATOR
IndividualSLC, UT
$8,700
Jul 9, 2024
9
DONADIO, RICHARD
RETIREDRETIRED
IndividualDACULA, GA
$8,700
Aug 13, 2024
10
ZALL, MARGIE
RETIREDRETIRED
IndividualBOYNTON BEACH, FL
$8,700
Sep 19, 2024

Donor Network - Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

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Showing 50 nodes and 29 connections (59 secondary connections hidden)

Total contributions: $136,572

Top Donors - Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]

Showing top 15 donors by contribution amount

1 PAC2 Committees12 Individuals

Industry Impact

Which industries are materially affected by specific provisions in this bill. 2 helped.

  • Section 2(a) adds a new provision to chapter 51 of title 18, United States Code, allowing for the prosecution of homicide offenses without regard to the time elapsed between the act or omission and the death of the victim, which could increase the effectiveness of law enforcement in investigating and prosecuting crimes.

  • The increased ability to prosecute homicide offenses under federal law (Section 2(a)) may lead to an increase in the number of individuals incarcerated in private prisons.

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