Political Quotes

“The Violence Against Women Act reauthorizes the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant Program through 2024. This amendment simply requires State and local governments that are recipients of the grant program to include information in their reports to the Attorney General on best practices for reducing the backlog of DNA evidence. This grant program was originally authorized under the Justice for All Act of 2004 to provide grants to State and local governments for the collection and analysis of forensic samples and to ensure the timely processing of DNA evidence by law enforcement. Congress reauthorized the program several times, most recently providing $151 million for fiscal year 2019. Despite these efforts, the backlog of untested DNA evidence is still high. According to reporting from The Texas Tribune, a paper back in the State of Texas, it costs between $500 and $2,000 to test a kit, and there are approximately 3,500 untested kits in Texas alone. We must continue working to reduce this backlog so that we can bring justice to the victims of assault. State and local grant recipients are required to submit a report to the Attorney General which is then summarized for Congress. My amendment adds best practices for reducing the backlog to the report required by grant recipients in order to better understand the needs of entities directly involved in collecting and processing DNA evidence. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.”