Q: What is the Justice for Survivors of Sexual Assault Act? A: In November, I introduced -- along with Senators Al Franken of Minnesota, Orrin Hatch of Utah, and Dianne Feinstein of California – this bill to help reduce the national backlog of thousands of untested rape kits that are currently in police storage. Rape kits are a tool used by law enforcement officers and medical professionals to collect evidence against perpetrators of this heinous crime. Currently, there is no requirement that the backlog of untested kits be counted. The last study regarding the backlog was in 1999, and it placed the backlog at over 180,000. In the decade since that study, the backlog has grown. Recent accounts have described thousands of untested rape kits sitting in storage while serial rapists continue to strike.

It takes approximately one week to process a rape kit, and it is crucial that this evidence is examined in a timely manner so evidence is collected to catch offenders before they rape again. It’s completely unacceptable for rape kits to sit around for months or even years while rapists remain at large and are committing new crimes. Our newly introduced Justice for Survivors of Sexual Assault Act of 2009 requires any jurisdiction that applies for federal funds to implement plans to reduce by half its rape kit backlogs within a two-year period. The legislation provides monetary incentives for jurisdictions to reduce rape kit backlogs, promptly process incoming rape kits, and report their backlog numbers. The legislation also creates, for the first time, an annual reporting mechanism for rape kit backlogs across the nation. It requires states, rather than victims, to be responsible for the full cost of rape kit examinations and requires health care professionals to notify victims that they have a right to a rape kit examination free of charge. Cost should not prohibit women from contacting authorities or medical professionals about rape. Our legislation also allows existing funding to be used for training forensic medical personnel examiners about sexual assault. There are funds today through the Grants to Encourage Arrest program. The bill also says that rural and tribal areas can pay for rape kits with grant funds authorized under the Violence Against Women Act.

Our bill is supported by the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence, RAINN (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network), SOAR (Speaking Out About Rape), Human Rights Watch, National Network to End Domestic Violence, Family Violence Prevention Fund, Stop Family Violence, National Women's Law Center, National Health Law Program, Feminist Majority, NOW, National Partnership for Women and Families, National Research Center for Women and Families, National Council of Women’s Organizations (NCWO), Women’s Research & Education Institute (WREI), Wider Opportunities for Women, and the Equal Justice Society.

Q: How else have you helped to combat violence against women? A: In 2005, I cosponsored the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which was signed into law in 2006, as part of the Department of Justice Reauthorization Act. The Violence Against Women Act has been instrumental in helping to prevent and end sexual assault and domestic violence. State funding cuts have decimated victims’ services across the country, making federal resources a vital lifeline for victims’ services. I will continue to work to help raise awareness and make sure communities have the necessary federal resources to help combat violence against women.

Q: Is Congress doing anything else for victims of crime? A: I am a cosponsor of the Crime Victims Fund Preservation Act, which passed the Senate Judiciary Committee and is currently awaiting action by the full Senate. This bill establishes a minimum funding level for programs under the Victims of Crime Act to ensure a reasonable growth in victim programs without jeopardizing the long-term sustainability of the Crime Victims Fund. The Crime Victims Fund is unique because no taxpayer funds are used. It is compiled from restitution payments and fines paid by criminal defendants. Grants are then distributed through a formula to states, which in turn distribute the funds to local organizations that provide assistance such as medical care, mental health counseling, and lost wages to crime victims who have had their lives turned upside down by criminals. This legislation will ensure that all victims of crime are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.