[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11997]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. LUIS V. GUTIERREZ

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 7, 2016

  Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent in the House 
chamber for votes on Tuesday, September 6, 2016. Had I been present, I 
would have voted ``yea'' on roll call votes 479 and 480.
  I strongly support the passage of H.R. 5578, the Survivors' Bill of 
Rights Act of 2016, which takes an important and much-needed step in 
ensuring that survivors of sexual assault will have access to the 
administration of a rape kit as well as rights to have that kit 
preserved, to be informed of the results, and to be notified of 
intended disposal of that kit. Although the rape kit backlog still 
overwhelms forensic labs throughout the country, this bill takes 
concrete steps to empower survivors to be informed of and make 
decisions regarding key evidence.




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