Congress reauthorized the nation’s primary DNA testing program through 2024. The U.S. Senate voted to renew the Debbie Smith Act, which has increased the use of DNA and has led to more than 192,000 DNA matches in CODIS (the FBI’s DNA database system). The bill had already passed the House, and is now headed for the president to be signed into law.

Each month, RAINN features a member of its National Leadership Council (NLC). The NLC is a group of dedicated individuals who have shown their commitment to RAINN’s mission of supporting survivors and ending sexual violence. This month we checked in with author, and RAINN supporter, Jen Sincero.

How has RAINN kept the National Sexual Assault Hotline free, secure, and available 24/7 to serve over 3 million survivors and their loved ones during the past 25 years? That, along with providing funding for RAINN’s work educating the public and improving public policy, is the job of RAINN’s development team.

The RAINN Speakers Bureau is a network of over 3,500 survivors of sexual violence from across the nation who volunteer to share their stories to raise awareness and let other survivors know they’re not alone. Every survivor is an expert in their own story, but for many, it can be hard to talk about what happened. For those who want to share their stories and are looking for guidance on what to expect when speaking with journalists, on TV, or in front of a crowd, RAINN holds free media trainings.

This November, RAINN honors veterans and all members of the DoD community for their service. Veteran’s Day is a time when many members of the military, veterans, and their loved ones celebrate their service and sacrifices—but it can also be a difficult moment for those who have experienced trauma, including trauma from sexual violence. 

Some victims of workplace sexual harassment are reluctant to report what happened because they fear the effect on their career. For those who leave their job after experiencing harassment or assault, it can be hard to know how to approach a new job search, application, or interview process.

When high profile sexual assault cases are in the news, thousands of survivors and their loved ones contact RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline. For some, this is the first time they are sharing their story. For others, the support specialists on the hotline are the only people in their lives who they know will listen and believe them.