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Congressman Boyle Leads Congressional Effort To Fully Fund Initiative To Reduce Rape Kit Backlog

April 26, 2019

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02) led a bipartisan letter urging the Appropriations Committee increase funding to $49 million for the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative, a Department of Justice program that aims to reduce the nation's backlog of untested rape kits. Boyle has been a staunch advocate for addressing the issue since his days as a Pennsylvania state legislator, when he authorized the legislation that ultimately reduced the rape kit backlog in Pennsylvania by over 90 percent within three years. Boyle released the following statement upon the submission of his letter.

"With more and more survivors of sexual assault bravely coming forward to seek justice, it's past time our law enforcement system catches up to support them. Nearly half a million rape kits sit untested in police storage units across the country because the departments simply don't have the resources to test them. I'll keep fighting to ensure the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative is well-funded so survivors across the United States can get the justice they deserve."

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