[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 172 (Thursday, November 19, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2823]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    INTRODUCTION OF THE JUSTICE FOR SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT ACT

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                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 19, 2009

  Mrs. MALONEY. Madam Speaker, today, I am proud to introduce this 
important bipartisan legislation with my colleagues, Representatives 
Heller, Nadler, Kennedy, Capps, Waxman, Speier, McGovern, Israel, 
Grijalva, Richardson, Perriello, Engel, Delahunt, Costa, Watson, Hall 
(NY), Stark, Chu, Norton, Moore (KS), and Holt. The companion bill has 
been introduced in the Senate by Senators Franken, Grassley, Hatch, and 
Feinstein.
  I have been working on the issue of DNA technology since 2001 when I, 
along with former Representative Steve Horn, held a hearing in the 
Government Reform Committee where we heard from a courageous rape 
survivor, Debbie Smith.
  It was for Debbie, and the thousands of rape survivors like her, that 
I authored ``The Debbie Smith Act'' to provide Federal funding to 
process the unconscionable backlog of DNA evidence. This legislation 
passed as part of the Justice for All Act of 2004, authorizing the 
necessary funding to start processing the backlog through the creation 
of the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant Program. Since 2004, millions of 
dollars in funding have been appropriated under the Debbie Smith DNA 
Backlog Grant Program.
  Despite the availability of funding and some progress made, the 
national backlog continues to persist. Recent media reports have 
documented that across the country, backlogs continue to rise and 
sexual assaults occur that might otherwise have been prevented were the 
kits processed in a timely manner. This bill addresses the continuing 
rape kit backlog and several other problems that work to deny justice 
to victims of sexual assault--including the denial of free rape kits to 
survivors of sexual assault, and the shortage of trained health 
professionals capable of administering rape kit exams.
  By creating incentives for jurisdictions to eliminate their rape kit 
backlogs, process their incoming rape kits in a timely manner, and 
publicly report their backlog numbers, this legislation would go a long 
way to ensuring that the purpose and intent of the Debbie Smith Act be 
fully realized.
  According to the Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network, every two 
minutes someone is sexually assaulted somewhere in the United States. 
DNA evidence does not forget and it cannot be intimidated. By 
processing this evidence, we can prevent rapists from attacking more 
innocent victims and ensure that the survivors and their families 
receive justice.

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