[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 716 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 716

Recognizing Gail Abarbanel and the Rape Treatment Center, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 31, 2009

   Mr. Kennedy (for himself, Mrs. McMorris Rodgers, Mr. Waxman, Mr. 
   Schiff, Mr. Sherman, Ms. Matsui, Mr. Berman, Mr. Wexler, and Ms. 
DeLauro) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                       Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing Gail Abarbanel and the Rape Treatment Center, and for other 
                               purposes.

Whereas in a study conducted by the Department of Justice and the Centers for 
        Disease Control and Prevention, researchers found that 1 in 6 women are 
        victims of rape or attempted rape;
Whereas on average, a person is sexually assaulted in the United States every 
        2\1/2\ minutes;
Whereas Gail Abarbanel, the founder and director of the Rape Treatment Center at 
        the Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center, created the Fast Track Forensics 
        Program, an innovative program that speeds up the processing of DNA 
        evidence to assist local law enforcement agencies;
Whereas delays in processing rape kits hamper investigations, jeopardize public 
        safety, and result in lost justice for the victims who report their rape 
        to the police and consent to the 4- to 6-hour rape kit collection 
        process;
Whereas the Rape Treatment Center is nationally recognized for its exemplary 
        treatment, education, and prevention programs; and
Whereas the work of Gail Abarbanel and the Rape Treatment Center helps sexual 
        assault victims become whole again by addressing the social, emotional, 
        and physical pain resulting from the violence of sexual assault: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) applauds Gail Abarbanel for founding the Rape Treatment 
        Center and creating the Fast Track Forensics Program;
            (2) commends the Rape Treatment Center for its work in 
        providing the necessary services to victims of sexual assault;
            (3) calls upon local law enforcement agencies and State 
        legislatures to work towards eliminating the delays in 
        processing rape kits by utilizing innovative programs such as 
        the Fast Track Forensics Program; and
            (4) urges the Congress to support programs that facilitate 
        the timely processing of DNA evidence to assist local law 
        enforcement agencies.
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