RAINN Presents Cornyn with ‘Crime Fighter’ Award

Today the Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network (RAINN) presented U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) with their ‘Crime Fighter’ award for his efforts to reduce and prevent sexual assault. RAINN has endorsed Sen. Cornyn’s bipartisan Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence Registry, or SAFER Act, which would audit and reduce the backlog of untested rape kits in the possession of law enforcement agencies across the country, estimated to be as high as 400,000.

I’m humbled to receive the RAINN Crime Fighter award, and I commend the staff and volunteers at RAINN for the tireless work they do year-round to seek justice for the victims of rape and abuse. I have been proud to work hand-in-hand with RAINN on issues like reducing the unacceptable rape kit backlog, and I look forward to continuing to work together on our shared goals for greater justice for victims nationwide.

“Sen. John Cornyn’s remarkable leadership has helped reduce the number of rapes across the nation and has ensured that victims get the help they deserve. His work has made him an indispensable partner to RAINN on Capitol Hill, and a reliable ally of survivors of this violent crime. In particular, his tireless work to pass the SAFER Act will bring greater transparency and efficiency to the criminal justice system and help get many perpetrators of the streets,” said Scott Berkowitz, president and founder of RAINN.

Background on the SAFER Act

• Provides state and local governments with funding to conduct one year audits of the untested sexual assault evidence in their possession.
• Creates a national registry to help track these audits, prioritize the analysis of untested rape kits and better target existing Debbie Smith Act appropriations.
• Amends current law to require that at least 75% of Debbie Smith Act funds be spent directly on either analyzing untested DNA evidence or increasing the capacity of labs.