September 6, 2016
Press Release

Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Survivors’ Bill of Rights Act of 2016, H.R. 5578, which Representative Mimi Walters (R-California) introduced along with Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-California).  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.  This bipartisan legislation will ensure that sexual assault survivors in federal criminal cases have a right to: a sexual assault evidence collection kit; be notified in writing before the kit is destroyed; request preservation of the kit; and be informed of important results from a forensic examination. The Survivors’ Bill of Rights Act will also require the Attorney General and the United States Department of Health and Human Services to convene a joint working group on best practices regarding the care and treatment of sexual assault survivors and the preservation of forensic evidence.

“The lack of substantive rights for sexual assault survivors prevents them from having full access to the justice system, but today, the House of Representatives has taken an important step towards repairing this uneven patchwork,” said Congresswoman Mimi Walters (R-California).  “This legislation ensures basic rights in the federal criminal justice system and will set an example for states to adopt similar procedures and practices.  The Senate has already unanimously passed these reforms, and now, it is my hope the President will sign them into law expeditiously.  I remain committed to ensuring that survivors of sexual assault have a fair chance at 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.”

 

Walters represents California’s 45th District and serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure and Judiciary Committees.

 

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