Legislation led by U.S. Sens. Dean Heller (R-NV) and John Cornyn (R-TX) to reauthorize and enhance the Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence Reporting (SAFER) program in order to continue tackling a large nationwide backlog of untested rape kits gained Senate approval on Tuesday.
First established under legislation led by Cornyn in 2013, the SAFER Act of 2017 reauthorizes a program that prioritizes existing federal funds from the Debbie Smith Act, which helps state and local law enforcement agencies identify, test and reduce the backlog of all DNA evidence, and targets these funds specifically for testing the backlog of rape kits. Under the SAFER program, Debbie Smith funding going to processing untested rape kits has increased by 35 percent.
“Victims of sexual assault deserve swift justice and nothing less,” Heller said. “Senate passage of this bipartisan bill represents an important step toward helping Nevada law enforcement in their efforts to cut down on the backlog of untested rape kits and ensure critical evidence isn’t left collecting dust.”
Specifically, the SAFER program supports one-year audits that help state and local police departments identify and address laboratory and storage backlogs of untested sexual assault evidence. These audits have uncovered tens of thousands of untested rape kits across the country.
The bipartisan legislation would also ensure that funding is available to train pediatric forensic nurses that respond to cases involving child or adolescent victims.
“This bill will empower law enforcement to identify and test more backlogged rape kits, help take criminals off the streets and deliver justice for survivors,” Cornyn said. “I applaud the Senate for coming together to get this legislation over the finish line, and I urge my colleagues in the House to advance it quickly.”
Heller and Cornyn introduced the bill with support from U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).
“As a strong supporter and author of proposals to crack down on these horrific crimes and aid victims on a path to recovery and closure, I urge the U.S. House to pass this bill and send it to the president’s desk,” Heller added.