Washington, D.C. – The House of Representatives today unanimously approved by a vote of 399-0 the Survivors’ Bill of Rights Act of 2016 (H.R. 5578) to provide protections for survivors of sexual assault. Representatives Mimi Walters (R-Calif.) and Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) introduced this bipartisan bill to ensure that sexual assault survivors in federal criminal cases have a right to a sexual assault evidence collection kit, are notified in writing before the kit is destroyed, request preservation of the kit, and are informed of important results from a forensic examination. The Survivors’ Bill of Rights Act also requires 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 House Judiciary Committee approved this bill in July. Representative Walters, Representative Lofgren, and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), praised House passage of the bill in the statements below. Rep. Walters: “I am pleased that the House of Representatives passed the Survivors’ Bill of Rights Act today. This bipartisan bill would ensure sexual assault survivors have access to basic rights and allow them full access to justice in federal courts. I thank my colleagues for their support and will continue to advocate for the rights of survivors of sexual assault.” Rep. Lofgren: “This is a big step towards fixing an insufficient, broken patchwork that deprives victims of a fair legal process. Today’s vote to overwhelmingly pass the Survivors’ Bill of Rights Act means we are much closer to ensuring victims of sexual assault have meaningful access to justice.” Chairman Goodlatte: “Sexual assault survivors should not have to face further trauma and barriers to justice after such a traumatic experience. The Survivors’ Bill of Rights Act standardizes procedures and enhances protections for survivors of sexual assault to ensure dignified care and access to justice for them. I applaud Representatives Walters and Lofgren for introducing this important bipartisan bill and will keep working to see the Senate pass it so that it can be expeditiously signed into law.” Amanda Nguyen, the founder and president of Rise who has championed this legislation, praised today’s House approval of H.R. 5578: “We are so grateful for Representative Mimi Walters and Zoe Lofgren’s leadership to champion the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights. Today’s vote will have a profound impact on the lives of the more than 25 million survivors of sexual assault across the U.S.”
Watch Rep. Walters’ explain the importance of the Survivors’ Bill of Rights Act.