[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 133 (Tuesday, September 6, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H5045-H5049]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 SURVIVORS' BILL OF RIGHTS ACT OF 2016

  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 5578) to establish certain rights for sexual assault 
survivors, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5578

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Survivors' Bill of Rights 
     Act of 2016''.

     SEC. 2. SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS' RIGHTS.

       (a) In General.--Part II of title 18, United States Code, 
     is amended by adding after chapter 237 the following:

            ``CHAPTER 238--SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS' RIGHTS

``Sec.
``3772. Sexual assault survivors' rights.

     ``Sec. 3772. Sexual assault survivors' rights

       ``(a) Rights of Sexual Assault Survivors.--In addition to 
     those rights provided

[[Page H5046]]

     in section 3771, a sexual assault survivor has the following 
     rights:
       ``(1) The right not to be prevented from, or charged for, 
     receiving a medical forensic examination.
       ``(2) The right to--
       ``(A) subject to paragraph (3), have a sexual assault 
     evidence collection kit or its probative contents preserved, 
     without charge, for the duration of the maximum applicable 
     statute of limitations or 20 years, whichever is shorter;
       ``(B) be informed of any result of a sexual assault 
     evidence collection kit, including a DNA profile match, 
     toxicology report, or other information collected as part of 
     a medical forensic examination, if such disclosure would not 
     impede or compromise an ongoing investigation; and
       ``(C) be informed in writing of policies governing the 
     collection and preservation of a sexual assault evidence 
     collection kit.
       ``(3) The right to--
       ``(A) upon written request, receive written notification 
     from the appropriate official with custody not later than 60 
     days before the date of the intended destruction or disposal; 
     and
       ``(B) upon written request, be granted further preservation 
     of the kit or its probative contents.
       ``(4) The right to be informed of the rights under this 
     subsection.
       ``(b) Applicability.--Subsections (b) through (f) of 
     section 3771 shall apply to sexual assault survivors.
       ``(c) Definition of Sexual Assault.--In this section, the 
     term `sexual assault' means any nonconsensual sexual act 
     proscribed by Federal, tribal, or State law, including when 
     the victim lacks capacity to consent.
       ``(d) Funding.--This section, other than paragraphs (2)(A) 
     and (3)(B) of subsection (a), shall be carried out using 
     funds made available under section 1402(d)(3)(A)(i) of the 
     Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10601(d)(3)(A)(i)). 
     No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to 
     carry out this section.''.
       (b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of 
     chapters for part II of title 18, United States Code, is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:

``238. Sexual assault survivors' rights.....................3772''.....

       (c) Amendment to Victims of Crime Act of 1984.--Section 
     1402(d)(3)(A)(i) of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (42 
     U.S.C. 10601(d)(3)(A)(i)) is amended by inserting after 
     ``section 3771'' the following: ``or section 3772, as it 
     relates to direct services,''.

     SEC. 3. SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS' NOTIFICATION GRANTS.

       The Victims of Crime Act of 1984 is amended by adding after 
     section 1404E (42 U.S.C. 10603e) the following:

     ``SEC. 1404F. SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS' NOTIFICATION GRANTS.

       ``(a) In General.--The Attorney General may make grants as 
     provided in section 1404(c)(1)(A) to States to develop and 
     disseminate to entities described in subsection (c)(1) of 
     this section written notice of applicable rights and policies 
     for sexual assault survivors.
       ``(b) Notification of Rights.--Each recipient of a grant 
     awarded under subsection (a) shall make its best effort to 
     ensure that each entity described in subsection (c)(1) 
     provides individuals who identify as a survivor of a sexual 
     assault, and who consent to receiving such information, with 
     written notice of applicable rights and policies regarding--
       ``(1) the right not to be charged fees for or otherwise 
     prevented from pursuing a sexual assault evidence collection 
     kit;
       ``(2) the right to have a sexual assault medical forensic 
     examination regardless of whether the survivor reports to or 
     cooperates with law enforcement;
       ``(3) the availability of a sexual assault advocate;
       ``(4) the availability of protective orders and policies 
     related to their enforcement;
       ``(5) policies regarding the storage, preservation, and 
     disposal of sexual assault evidence collection kits;
       ``(6) the process, if any, to request preservation of 
     sexual assault evidence collection kits or the probative 
     evidence from such kits; and
       ``(7) the availability of victim compensation and 
     restitution.
       ``(c) Dissemination of Written Notice.--Each recipient of a 
     grant awarded under subsection (a) shall--
       ``(1) provide the written notice described in subsection 
     (b) to medical centers, hospitals, forensic examiners, sexual 
     assault service providers, State and local law enforcement 
     agencies, and any other State agency or department reasonably 
     likely to serve sexual assault survivors; and
       ``(2) make the written notice described in subsection (b) 
     publicly available on the Internet website of the attorney 
     general of the State.
       ``(d) Provision To Promote Compliance.--The Attorney 
     General may provide such technical assistance and guidance as 
     necessary to help recipients meet the requirements of this 
     section.
       ``(e) Integration of Systems.--Any system developed and 
     implemented under this section may be integrated with an 
     existing case management system operated by the recipient of 
     the grant if the system meets the requirements listed in this 
     section.''.

     SEC. 4. WORKING GROUP.

       (a) In General.--The Attorney General, in consultation with 
     the Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in 
     this section as the ``Secretary''), shall establish a joint 
     working group (referred to in this section as the ``Working 
     Group'') to develop, coordinate, and disseminate best 
     practices regarding the care and treatment of sexual assault 
     survivors and the preservation of forensic evidence.
       (b) Consultation With Stakeholders.--The Working Group 
     shall consult with--
       (1) stakeholders in law enforcement, prosecution, forensic 
     laboratory, counseling, forensic examiner, medical facility, 
     and medical provider communities; and
       (2) representatives of not less than 3 entities with 
     demonstrated expertise in sexual assault prevention, sexual 
     assault advocacy, or representation of sexual assault 
     victims, of which not less than 1 representative shall be a 
     sexual assault victim.
       (c) Membership.--The Working Group shall be composed of 
     governmental or nongovernmental agency heads at the 
     discretion of the Attorney General, in consultation with the 
     Secretary.
       (d) Duties.--The Working Group shall--
       (1) develop recommendations for improving the coordination 
     of the dissemination and implementation of best practices and 
     protocols regarding the care and treatment of sexual assault 
     survivors and the preservation of evidence to hospital 
     administrators, physicians, forensic examiners, and other 
     medical associations and leaders in the medical community;
       (2) encourage, where appropriate, the adoption and 
     implementation of best practices and protocols regarding the 
     care and treatment of sexual assault survivors and the 
     preservation of evidence among hospital administrators, 
     physicians, forensic examiners, and other medical 
     associations and leaders in the medical community;
       (3) develop recommendations to promote the coordination of 
     the dissemination and implementation of best practices 
     regarding the care and treatment of sexual assault survivors 
     and the preservation of evidence to State attorneys general, 
     United States attorneys, heads of State law enforcement 
     agencies, forensic laboratory directors and managers, and 
     other leaders in the law enforcement community;
       (4) develop and implement, where practicable, incentives to 
     encourage the adoption or implementation of best practices 
     regarding the care and treatment of sexual assault survivors 
     and the preservation of evidence among State attorneys 
     general, United States attorneys, heads of State law 
     enforcement agencies, forensic laboratory directors and 
     managers, and other leaders in the law enforcement community;
       (5) collect feedback from stakeholders, practitioners, and 
     leadership throughout the Federal and State law enforcement, 
     victim services, forensic science practitioner, and health 
     care communities to inform development of future best 
     practices or clinical guidelines regarding the care and 
     treatment of sexual assault survivors; and
       (6) perform other activities, such as activities relating 
     to development, dissemination, outreach, engagement, or 
     training associated with advancing victim-centered care for 
     sexual assault survivors.
       (e) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Working Group shall submit to the 
     Attorney General, the Secretary, and Congress a report 
     containing the findings and recommended actions of the 
     Working Group.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. 
Lofgren) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.


                             General Leave

  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous materials on H.R. 5578, currently under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  This summer, the harrowing account of the Stanford rape victim 
sparked outrage across the United States and around the globe. The 
survivor's letter documented in graphic and painstaking detail the 
complicated, emotional, and overwhelming process facing victims of 
sexual assault.
  In her letter, the victim writes:
  ``The next thing I remember I was in a gurney in a hallway. I had 
dried blood and bandages on the backs of my hands and elbow. I thought 
maybe I had fallen and was in an admin office on campus . . . Then, I 
felt pine needles scratching the back of my neck and started pulling 
them out of my hair. I thought maybe, the pine needles had fallen from 
a tree onto my head. My brain was talking my gut into not collapsing. 
Because my gut was saying, help me, help me.

[[Page H5047]]

  ``I shuffled from room to room with a blanket wrapped around me, pine 
needles trailing behind me, I left a little pile in every room I sat 
in. I was asked to sign papers that said `Rape Victim' and I thought 
something has really happened. My clothes were confiscated and I stood 
naked while the nurses held a ruler to various abrasions on my body and 
photographed them. The three of us worked to comb the pine needles out 
of my hair.''
  The letter goes on to describe the rest of the forensic exam, her 
feelings about what happened to her, and her day in court. Her vivid 
and breathtaking account captured the national spotlight.
  Unfortunately, she is but one of many who have to go through this 
ordeal, but what is abundantly clear from this account is the trauma 
and difficulty sexual assault victims face from the moment they are 
assaulted.
  The Survivors' Bill of Rights Act of 2016 makes much-needed additions 
to Federal law to give victims of sexual assault additional rights in 
seeking justice and recovering from their experiences.
  These additional rights include the right to not be prevented from 
accessing a medical forensic exam, the right not to be charged for that 
exam, and the right to know about the results of that exam. 
Furthermore, the bill requires that the medical exam be preserved 
throughout the length of the statute of limitations. Additionally, the 
bill requires that the government provide notice to the victim when it 
intends to dispose of the collection kit.
  I continue to be deeply troubled by the number of untested rape kits 
that remain in this country, despite the Judiciary Committee's work to 
increase funding for rape kit testing to reduce this backlog. 
Nevertheless, these additional rights related to medical exams will 
ensure that forensic medical kits will, at the very least, be preserved 
for the length of the statute of limitations, and victims will have 
notice so they can contest the destruction of those kits.
  This bill also clarifies that, under existing law, the Justice 
Department may make discretionary grants from the Crime Victims Fund to 
States to use those grants to notify victims of existing rights under 
State law. While this bill does much to address the rights of sexual 
assault victims under Federal law, States have different sets of 
applicable victims' rights that are particular to the State. This 
provision will ensure that victims will know what rights they have in 
their particular States.
  I want to thank the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Mimi Walters) 
and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lofgren) for their leadership 
on this very important piece of legislation.
  I urge passage of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my 
time.

                                         House of Representatives,


                             Committee on Energy and Commerce,

                                Washington, DC, September 6, 2016.
     Hon. Bob Goodlatte,
     Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Goodlatte: I write in regard to H.R. 5578, 
     Survivors' Bill of Rights Act of 2016, which was recently 
     ordered to be reported by the Committee on the Judiciary. As 
     you are aware, the bill also was referred to the Committee on 
     Energy and Commerce. I wanted to notify you that the 
     Committee on Energy and Commerce will forgo action on H.R. 
     5578 so that it may proceed expeditiously to the House floor 
     for consideration.
       This is done with the understanding that the Committee on 
     Energy and Commerce's jurisdictional interests over this and 
     similar legislation are in no way diminished or altered. In 
     addition, the Committee reserves the right to seek conferees 
     on H.R. 5578 and requests your support when such a request is 
     made.
       I would appreciate your response confirming this 
     understanding with respect to H.R. 5578 and ask that a copy 
     of our exchange of letters on this matter be included in the 
     Congressional Record during consideration of the bill on the 
     House floor.
           Sincerely,
                                                       Fred Upton,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                   Committee on the Judiciary,

                                Washington, DC, September 6, 2016.
     Hon. Fred Upton,
     Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Upton: Thank you for your letter regarding 
     H.R. 5578, the ``Survivors'' Bill of Rights Act of 2016,'' 
     which the Judiciary Committee ordered reported favorably to 
     the House on July 18, 2016,
       I am most appreciative of your decision to forego formal 
     consideration of H.R. 5578 so that it may proceed to the 
     House floor. I acknowledge that although you are waving 
     formal consideration of the bill, the Committee on Energy and 
     Commerce is in no way waiving its jurisdiction over the 
     subject matter contained in those provisions in the bill that 
     fall within your Rule X jurisdiction. In addition, I would 
     support your effort to seek appointment of an appropriate 
     number of conferees on any House-Senate conference involving 
     this legislation.
       Finally, I am pleased to include this letter and your 
     letter in the Congressional Record during floor consideration 
     of H.R. 5578,
           Sincerely,
                                                    Bob Goodlatte.
                                                         Chairman,

  Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, passing the Survivors' Bill of Rights Act is an 
important step in enacting protections and ensuring access to justice 
for many Americans who are survivors of sexual assault.
  In May, just this last May, I found myself meeting with Amanda 
Nguyen, Lara McLeod, and Marisa Ferri and their friends in my office as 
part of Assault Awareness Month. They had asked to meet with me, as the 
senior woman on the Judiciary Committee, and then they told me I was 
the first actual Member of Congress whom they had been able to meet 
with.
  When I did listen to them, this is what I heard:
  Amanda Nguyen told me about her rape, that every 6 months she was 
faced with the choice of reliving her past trauma or having the State 
of Massachusetts destroy essential evidence that would assist in the 
prosecution of her rapist: her medical forensic examination, or rape 
kit.
  When Amanda sought information on how to prevent her rape kit from 
being destroyed, police provided conflicting information. She was even 
told at one point that the kit would be stored indefinitely, which was 
not correct. She then had to go back and forth between police and State 
lab techs trying to locate her kit. And even when she found it and got 
the extension on storing it, the technicians moved her kit without 
telling her, and she now has to file an extension every 6 months just 
to preserve the evidence.
  I listened to Marisa Ferri tell me that she thought her rape would be 
the most traumatic experience of her life, but what she found out was 
that even more traumatic, according to her, was the way she was further 
victimized by the system after being raped. When Marisa went to the 
hospital to seek medical treatment and requested a forensic exam, she 
was prevented from doing so until after she spoke with the detective.
  She asked if the interview could wait until the volunteer from the 
Rape Crisis Center arrived, but was told that she had to be interviewed 
then if she wanted to press charges. Alone and confused, Marisa 
underwent nearly hours of questioning by a detective who tried to 
discourage her from filing a report and blamed her, according to 
Marisa, for her own rape.
  Marisa is, unfortunately, not alone in being misinformed about her 
rights, and being interrogated instead of being allowed the opportunity 
to undergo a rape kit procedure in an expedient manner and to ensure 
the maximum effectiveness that the evidence has been collected.
  Marisa endured 6 weeks of repeated questioning by the detective about 
her behavior on the night of the rape. At times, she said she felt like 
she was the one under investigation.
  Initially, her case was closed without the rape kit being tested. It 
was only after she filed a formal complaint that the case was reopened 
more than a year later and the rape kit was tested. Many survivors 
would have given up on a system that had failed them as much as the 
system failed her and would not have pursued reopening their closed 
case.
  Lara McLeod suffered through further victimization after sexual 
assault. She reports that, at 19 years of age, she was raped by her 
sister's fiance, but she did not want to report the crime. Instead, her 
family, who she told about her sexual assault, informed the police, and 
she was told to go to the station for a formal interview.
  After a cursory investigation, she reports that the police accused 
her of lying about the rape and arrested her.

[[Page H5048]]

Her sister was charged with obstructing justice for aiding Lara's 
alleged deceit. The false charge against Lara and her sister were 
eventually expunged, but not before damage to reputation and her 
sister's savings being spent on dismissing the charges and, worse yet, 
her sister being denied full custody of her infant son because of the 
charge against her, which ultimately resulted in this son dying while 
in the custody of Lara's rapist.
  I mention these terrifying stories because that is what this bill is 
all about. It is also about the power of individuals to change the law. 
After I heard their stories, within 2 hours, I talked to Judiciary 
Committee Chairman Goodlatte on the House floor and told him about 
these stories.
  To his credit, Chairman Goodlatte immediately contacted his staff to 
make sure that we could work together on this bill. Only 2 short months 
later, the Judiciary Committee unanimously approved this legislation. 
The House version includes a small improvement on the text passed by 
the Senate; and it is my hope that, after passage in the House, the 
Senate will also approve this version so it can be sent to President 
Obama for his signature.
  I want to thank all the members of the Judiciary Committee for their 
action. But even more, I want to thank the courageous victims of rape 
who formed the group RISE, who did rise and who exerted their power to 
take control of this situation, who would not accept being victimized 
but, instead, decided to take their trauma and change the law so that 
other victims will have more power than they had. The congratulations 
go to them.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1630

  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, it is now my great pleasure to yield 4 
minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Mimi Walters), the 
chief sponsor of this legislation and a member of the Judiciary 
Committee.
  Mrs. MIMI WALTERS of California. Mr. Speaker, under current law, 
basic rights that protect survivors of sexual assault and allow them 
full access to justice vary greatly between each State and Federal 
statute. The uneven patchwork of laws across this country and the lack 
of substantive rights for sexual assault survivors prevent them from 
having full access to the justice system. Survivors of sexual assault 
have experienced unspeakable trauma, and they should not face 
unnecessary barriers to justice. These brave survivors deserve 
commonsense legal protections and clear procedures that ensure access 
to justice.
  This bipartisan legislation will ensure that sexual assault survivors 
in Federal criminal cases have a right to a sexual assault evidence 
collection kit, a right to be notified in writing before the kit is 
destroyed, a right to request preservation of the kit, and a right to 
be informed of important results from a forensic examination.
  This legislation is so important because it ensures these rights in 
the Federal criminal justice system and, furthermore, it will set an 
example for States to adopt similar procedures and practices.
  Additionally, this legislation will establish a joint working group 
formed by the Attorney General and the Department of Health and Human 
Services on best practices regarding the care and treatment of sexual 
assault survivors and the preservation of forensic evidence. It will 
also make the Victims of Crimes Act grant funding available for States 
to disseminate written notice of survivors' rights. The Senate has 
unanimously passed these reforms, and now we must do our part to ensure 
that sexual assault survivors have a fair chance at justice.
  This legislation, which I have introduced with Ms. Lofgren, has been 
endorsed by Rise; the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, more 
commonly known as RAINN; the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence; 
and the National Center for Victims of Crime, among other groups. I 
thank these groups, Chairman Goodlatte, Ms. Lofgren, and all other 
cosponsors working to advance the Survivors' Bill of Rights.
  I remain committed to ensuring that survivors of sexual assault can 
secure justice, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to 
advocate for victims of sexual assault and enact sensible reforms like 
this bipartisan bill. I encourage my colleagues to support the 
Survivors' Bill of Rights.
  Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to celebrate our action today. I know that Lara 
McLeod and Marisa Ferri are watching this on C-SPAN. Amanda Nguyen is 
here in the Chamber. I just want to say to them: You are not weak 
victims. You are strong and powerful actors who turned tragedy into a 
triumph, and I commend you and honor you for your work.
  I thank the gentleman, and I urge all Members to vote for this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume. I just want to thank the gentlewomen from California, Mrs. 
Mimi Walters and Ms. Lofgren, for their hard work, and the women who 
have spoken out about their own personal experiences with regard to 
sexual assaults because without their speaking out, we would not make 
the kind of progress that we have made in bringing this legislation 
this far to the floor of the House.
  I urge my colleagues to support it. It is important legislation to 
protect women. It is important legislation to protect our judicial 
process, and it is important legislation to be sure that people are 
treated with respect and dignity as they go through this process.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5578, 
the ``Survivors' Bills of Rights Act of 2016.''
  I am pleased to be an original cosponsor of this measure because this 
critical bill will eliminate barriers to the law faced by sexual 
assault survivors.
  H.R. 5578 is an important bill intended to provide additional legal 
protections and support to survivors of the horrific crime of sexual 
assault.
  An estimated 1 out of every 6 women in the United States will be the 
victim of a sexual assault or attempted sexual assault during their 
lifetime.
  All too often, the victims of sexual abuse are children. According to 
a 2013 Department of Health and Human Services survey on child 
maltreatment, child protective service agencies estimated that for the 
period from 2009 through 2013, an average of 63,000 children were 
victims of sexual abuse each year.
  Despite these statistics, the United States presently lacks 
standardized procedures for victims of sexual assault to gain full 
access to justice.
  Basic rights and protections for survivors of sexual assault vary 
from state to state.
  Moreover, not a single State gives sexual assault victims the right 
to require that critical forensic evidence in their case--the sexual 
assault evidence collection kit, or rape kit--be retained until the 
statute of limitations on the crime has expired.
  As a result, critical evidence can be lost.
  The Survivors' Bill of Rights Act will create a federal standard that 
states can model.
  For example, Massachusetts has a 15-year statute of limitations on 
sexual assaults, but untested rape kits are required to be stored only 
for six months.
  In another example, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department in 
North Carolina has destroyed more than 1,000 rape kits since 2000.
  This bipartisan legislation would ensure sexual assault survivors in 
federal criminal cases have certain rights and serve as an example for 
States to adopt similar practices.
  This bill will add to the existing rights for the survivors of sexual 
assault the following:
  The right to not be prevented from, or charged for, receiving a 
medical forensic exam;
  The right to be informed of any result of a sexual assault evidence 
collection kit;
  The right to be informed in writing of policies governing the 
collection and preservation of their rape kit;
  The right to have that rape kit preserved, without charge, for the 
statutory limitation period or 20 years, whichever is shorter;
  The right to receive written notice, no later than sixty days before 
the intended date, if the government intends to destroy or dispose of 
their rape kit before the end of the statutory limitation period; and
  The right to request, in writing, that their rape kit be preserved, 
rather than be destroyed or disposed of before the expiration of the 
statutory limitation period.
  This bill also amends Victims of Crime Act to authorize the Attorney 
General to make grants for the development and dissemination of written 
notices of applicable rights and policies for sexual assault survivors.

[[Page H5049]]

  Crime victim assistance programs that receive such grants will 
provide the notices to sexual assault survivors, as well as to medical 
facilities, law enforcement agencies, forensic examiners, sexual 
assault service providers, and other agencies that come in contact with 
sexual assault survivors.
  Finally, this bill would create a working group under the Attorney 
General, with advice from the Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
and participation by representatives of sexual assault prevention, 
advocacy, or victims groups, to develop best practices regarding the 
care and treatment of sexual assault survivors and the preservation of 
forensic evidence.
  These changes will allow survivors access to vital medical 
information, improve communication between law enforcement and 
survivors, ensure survivors have information necessary to monitor 
aspects of the investigation, and help prevent evidence in their cases 
being destroyed without their knowledge.
  This bill expands and strengthens the rights of survivors of sexual 
assault, and will help ensure that they are fully and timely informed 
of, and thus able to meaningfully exercise, those rights.
  For these reasons, I support the Survivors' Bill of Rights Act.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill because this important and 
necessary measure will help ensure that sexual assault survivors are 
given full access to the justice system.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5578.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

                          ____________________