Crime Subcommittee to Hold Hearing on the Survivors' Bill of Rights

Washington, D.C. - On Tuesday, February 27, 2018 at 11:00 a.m., the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations will hold a hearing on the Implementation of the Survivors' Bill of Rights Act. This hearing will examine the successes and challenges of the Survivors' Bill of Rights, including legislation passed in the states to codify rights for sexual assault survivors, resources available to victims, additional actions from federal agencies on best practices and the preservation of evidence, and public response to the bill. Witnesses for the hearing include:

• Ms. Amanda Nguyen, CEO and Founder, RISE
• Ms. Evan Rachel Wood, Artist and Advocate, Survivor
• Ms. Lauren Libby, Chief of Staff, RISE, Survivor
• Ms. Rebecca O’Connor, Vice President, Rape Abuse Incest National Network (RAINN)

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) has issued the following statement ahead of the hearing: Chairman Goodlatte: “Since this bill became law, the nation has been bombarded with accounts of sexual assault—including stories of abuse in amateur athletics and rampant sexual harassment in workplaces across the country. “Today, it is clear that the ‘Survivors' Bill of Rights’ is more necessary than ever. I am pleased to announce this hearing to review the implementation of this bill to ensure that it is improving the experience of survivors in our justice system so that they have access to the resources they need. “I want to thank my colleagues on the House Judiciary Committee for their tireless work on this issue, and especially our distinguished panel of witnesses, many of whom have dedicated their lives to speaking out about the difficulties faced by survivors. I look forward to a meaningful discussion at the hearing.” Background: The Survivors' Bill of Rights establishes that survivors of sexual assault in federal cases have a right to a sexual assault evidence collection kit, and that they are notified in writing before the kit is destroyed, can request preservation of the kit, and are informed of important results from a forensic examination. The House Judiciary Committee approved H.R. 5578  in a bipartisan fashion, and it passed the House of Representatives unanimously in 2016. Chief sponsor of the legislation, Rep. Mimi Walters (R-Calif.) released a video discussing the importance of the bill. Earlier this year, the House of Representatives passed the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act, a product of the House Judiciary Committee. The legislation was signed into law by President Trump last week.

###