The Senate Judiciary Committee today approved the SAFER Act (S. 3250), critical legislation that addresses the backlog of untested DNA evidence from unsolved rape cases. The next step is a vote by the full Senate, which should take place late this year. We also hope that the House will take up the bill later this year.

The bipartisan SAFER Act, sponsored by Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) with Sens. Michael Bennet (D-CO), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Susan Collins (R-ME), Al Franken (D-MN) and Mark Kirk (R-IL), is a deficit-neutral bill that will create the Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence Registry (SAFER), which will track the status of DNA evidence collected in rape cases (commonly known as rape kits). More than 100 anti-sexual violence organizations have joined RAINN in endorsing the bill and urging its passage.

We are very grateful to Sen. Cornyn for his leadership and hard work, and to all our Senate co-sponsors, whose support was so crucial in today's bipartisan vote.

Learn more about the SAFER Act and what you can do to help.