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For Immediate Release: Debbie Smith Act Co-Lead by Congressman Wesley Hunt Passes Judiciary Committee Markup

September 28, 2023
Contact: Matthew Topolski, Communications Director 
 
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Wesley Hunt introduced a bipartisan bill which passed Judiciary Committee for mark-up.  The bill is the Debbie Smith Act, which provides federal grants to states to reduce the backlog of testing biological material thought to contain DNA in criminal investigations, particularly rapes and sexual assaults. 
 
The Debbie Smith Act has already matched nearly 200,000 DNA cases since 2005, and with this reauthorization, Congress will be able to continue supporting our brave men and women in Law Enforcement and the victims of sexual assault and homicide. 
 
"It is time to put an end to the backlog of untested and unanalyzed DNA evidence and hold perpetrators accountable. I am honored to co-lead this effort," said Hunt. 
 
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