Schakowsky Statement on Reauthorization of the Debbie Smith Act

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a Senior Chief Deputy Whip, issued the following statement on H.R. 777, the Debbie Smith Reauthorization Act of 2019, which she voted for and which passed the House by a vote of 402-1:

"The Debbie Smith Act was a groundbreaking piece of legislation, when we first passed it in 2004, that was aimed at ending the backlog of untested rape kits and other unanalyzed DNA evidence. Now as we reauthorize it, law enforcement communities around the country have recognized the impact of clearing these backlogs in solving many heinous crimes. The grants this legislation provides gives all states the tools and staff they need to reduce their backlogs and help bring justice to violent crime and rape victims, as well as possibly clear wrongfully convicted individuals."