Bill to aid data collection on sexual violence
Goal is to improve information at federal agencies.
Rep. Mike Turner has joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers to introduce a bill aimed at improving sexual violence data collection at key federal agencies.
The bill is a response to a recent Government Accountability Office report that found vast differences in how the Departments of Defense, Education, Health and Human Services and Justice collect data on sexual violence. The GAO reported that “differences in data collection efforts may hinder the understanding of the occurrence of sexual violence, and agencies’ efforts to explain and lessen differences have been fragmented and limited in scope.”
Turner, R-Dayton, joined Rep. Ann Kuster, a New Hampshire Democrat, to introduce a bill that requires that the Office of Management and Budget work with the Departments of Defense, Education, Justice, and Health and Human Services to improve coordination across agencies and develop useful and transparent sexual violence statistics in hopes of preventing and addressing sexual violence.
Sens. Claire McCaskill, D-Missouri, and Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin, have introduced a companion bill in the Senate.
Bill aimed DNA funding
Sens. Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman last week joined a group of lawmakers to introduce a bill that would provide federal dollars toward use of DNA in an effort prosecute cold cases and address the rape kit backlog. The bill would also help exonerate those wrongfully convicted of crimes they did not commit.
The bill, said Portman, an Ohio Republican “”will ensure that we put a priority on resolving old sexual assault cases and providing victims the justice and closure they deserve.”
Senators lobby Amazon CEO
Brown and Portman also last week joined the Ohio Congressional delegation in a letter to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos urging the company to choose Columbus as the location of Amazon’s HQ2.
The letter follows Amazon’s announcement that Columbus is among their top 20 finalists for its second headquarters. In the letter, the delegation invited Bezos to meet with the Ohio delegation to discuss how Columbus and central Ohio are best suited to meet the needs of the company.
“Amazon’s selection of Columbus as a finalist for its second headquarters is a testament to the strength of central Ohio’s workforce,” said Brown, D-Ohio. “With highly-skilled workers, toptier colleges and universities, and an innovative transportation infrastructure, Columbus has distinguished itself as a premier community for businesses and workers alike.”
Veterans bill headed to House
Brown last week said a bill he has introduced that would expand access for veterans to receive counseling and mental health services from qualified fellow veterans passed the Senate unanimously last week.
The bill is now headed to the House floor.
Specifically, it would allow the Department of Veterans Affairs to use peer specialist programs at VA medical centers and establish peer specialist programs in 50 locations around the country, with special consideration of rural and underserved communities. Under Brown’s bill the VA would be required to report on the effectiveness of the program in a report to Congress.