Q: What is Sexual Assault Awareness Month? A: The month of April is designated as Sexual Assault Awareness Month in order to highlight the need to prevent sexual assault. According to a National Violence Against Women survey, one in six American women has been a victim of rape or attempted rape. Sexual assault also includes any unwanted sexual contact and can affect men and women regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation. According to a study cited by the National Center for Victims of Crime, males are the least likely to report a sexual assault, though it is estimated that they make up 10 percent of all victims. Perpetrators can include friends, acquaintances or even the victim’s own family members. It’s important we all work together to make sure sexual violence is stopped. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800–656–4673, or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). They will connect you with counselors, including local rape crisis centers that operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information and resources about sexual assault, visit the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, at www.nsvrc.org, the National Domestic Violence Hotline at www.ndvh.org, or the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Violence Against Women at www.ovw.usdoj.gov.
Q: What is Congress doing to help prevent sexual assault? A: In November, I introduced, with Senator Al Franken of Minnesota, the bipartisan Justice for Survivors of Sexual Assault Act. The legislation is aimed at reducing the national backlog of thousands of untested rape kits that are currently in police storage. It’s unacceptable for rape kits to sit on a shelf for months, or even years, while rapists remain at large, free to commit new crimes. I’m also a cosponsor of the Crime Victims Fund Preservation Act. This bill has passed the Senate Judiciary Committee and awaits action by the full Senate. The fund would be comprised of restitution payments and fines from criminal defendants. No taxpayer funds are required. Grants then would be distributed through a formula to states, which, in turn, distribute funds to local organizations that provide medical care, mental health counseling, and lost wages to crime victims who have had their lives turned upside down by criminals. This bill treats victims of crime with the dignity and respect they deserve. In 2005, I cosponsored the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which was signed into law in 2006, as part of the Department of Justice Reauthorization Act. The Violence Against Women Act has helped prevent sexual assaults and domestic violence. While states are cutting funding to victims’ services across the country, the Violence Against Women Act offers federal resources to help keep afloat these lifelines for victims. I’ll continue to work to help raise awareness and make sure communities can access federal resources to help combat violence against women.