Hey all, in response to one of NrsKarenRN's threads, (can't remember the title), But it involved the bill before congress to improve the collection of evidence for sexual assaults. Today l got a response from my congressman. l wanted to share it with you and get some feed back........thanks, LR
Dear
Thank you for contacting me regarding H.R. 2874, the Debbie Smith Act.
It is good to hear from you.
Sponsored by Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), the Debbie Smith Act
would authorize federal grants to states for the purposes of: sexual
assault nurse examiner programs, law enforcement personnel training, and
"first responders" for the collection and use of DNA evidence. To be
eligible for the money, states would have to follow strict bureaucratic
guidelines that would nationally standardize evidence collection and
investigation procedures.
While I am certainly in favor of strict law enforcement, I must point out
that the Federal government does not have the time or resources to aid
states in solving every rape case. Criminal law enforcement is a state
issue. As is the case with most federal grants, the Washington-imposed
guidelines will do little more than "gum up the works." It is impossible
to think that states would have any freedom under the proposed process,
which I am sure you are aware, is always the case when federal funding is
involved. I fear, the Debbie Smith Act will simply cost more money while
yielding few results.
Thank you for contacting me regarding this important issue. Please
continue to keep me informed of the issues that are important to you.
