WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) issued the following statement regarding the Senate’s passage of the Adam Walsh Reauthorization Act of 2016 today on an 89-0 vote:
“Sexual assault is an unthinkable crime – one that we must do everything in our power to prevent. As a mother and grandmother, my vote for the Adam Walsh Reauthorization Act of 2016 was a no brainer. This legislation reauthorizes programs that are critical to helping states track sex offenders, securing justice for the victims of sexual assault, and preventing future abuses from occurring,” said Senator Capito.
This legislation reauthorizes certain programs established by the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, including the Sex Offender Management Assistance Program and the Jessica Lunsford Address Verification Grant Program. Both programs provide federal grants to state and local law enforcement to help improve tracking of sex offenders and prevent future abuses.
It also adds new rights for victims of federal sexual assault offenses, such as extending the statute of limitations for child survivors of sexual abuse or human trafficking offenses from three to 10 years after turning 18, establishing free medical forensic examinations for survivors, and ensuring the preservation of sexual assault evidence collection kits without charge.
The bill, named for six-year-old Adam Walsh who was kidnapped and murdered in Florida in 1981, is supported by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children; John Walsh, father of Adam Walsh and host of America’s Most Wanted; Rise; Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network; National Alliance to End Sexual Violence; and Shared Hope International.
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