Congresswoman Katie Porter (CA-45) today introduced an amendment to increase funding for the sexual assault kit backlog program. Across the country, there are hundreds of thousands of sexual assault kits (also known as rape kits) sitting untested. The amendment was adopted by the House of Representatives on a bipartisan basis.

“I hope that this increase in funding today helps us continue the conversation, and raise more awareness, about the sexual assault kit backlog,” said Congresswoman Porter when introducing this amendment on the House floor. “I hope that survivors of sexual assault know that Members of Congress are fighting for them, and I hope that they know that this fight won’t end with this amendment.”

According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), only 5 out of every 1,000 rapists will end up in prison. Having the data and information that a rape kit can provide is essential to solving and preventing sexual assault. End the Backlog, an organization focused on addressing the policies creating the backlog, has estimated that there are 13,615 untested sexual assault kits in California alone—but there are likely many more.

The amendment is supported by RAINN, the Joyful Heart Foundation, and the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence.

“RAINN thanks Congresswoman Porter for her tireless work to pass this amendment that supports survivors and addresses the rape kit backlog. Ending the rape kit backlog is integral to bringing perpetrators to justice and helping survivors of sexual violence heal,” said Camille Cooper, Vice President of Public Policy at RAINN.

“We are grateful to Rep. Porter for proposing an increase to the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative. Joyful Heart helped to create this invaluable program and we continue to be encouraged by the progress it has inspired," said Ilse Knecht, director of policy and advocacy at the Joyful Heart Foundation. "The ability of law enforcement, crime labs, and prosecutors to implement change often depends, in part, on whether additional resources and funding are dedicated to clearing backlogs and pursuing leads. The federal government has played a key role in helping jurisdictions address their backlogs by investing in justice for survivors, accountability for perpetrators, and safety for America’s communities. These early and ongoing funding commitments have helped us leverage additional resources in state legislatures across the country.”

One of Congresswoman Porter’s top priorities has been the safety of women and children. Last week, she advocated for increased funding for a program to promote intimate partner violence response and health collaboration at the state level. Earlier this year, she voted to pass an extension for the Violence Against Women Act, which included an amendment to integrate the term “economic abuse” throughout the legislation. She also joined her House colleagues at an event announcing the introduction of the legislation to extend VAWA, where she shared her story dealing with law enforcement as a survivor of domestic violence. The House passed her first amendment on the House floor in February, which would require a report to Congress on the effect of firearm possession on victims of domestic violence.

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