WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sens. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., and Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., are working together to help victims of sexual assault.

The bipartisan pair is again pushing their Fairness for Rape Kit Backlog Survivors Act which would ensure that survivors of sexual assault have access to the same benefits as victims of other crimes.

As a result of rape kit backlogs across the country, many survivors of sexual assault are unable to access state crime victim compensation when they need it — when their kits are finally tested and matched. This bipartisan legislation would require state programs to allow victims to file for compensation without being unfairly penalized for delays due to rape kit backlogs.

“Every year, thousands of rape kits go untested, delaying justice for victims,” said Toomey. “This bipartisan bill helps lessen the ramifications of these backlogs by ensuring that victims can apply for and receive benefits and support services, even if their rape kit is delayed to a point that a victim missed the deadline to apply in their state. All victims deserve justice, so this bill is one small step Congress can take towards ensuring victims are properly supported. I hope my Senate colleagues will quickly approve this bill.”

The Fairness for Rape Kit Backlog Survivors Act would prevent state victim compensation programs under the Victims of Crime Act from discriminating against survivors. This would ensure that when a law enforcement agency initiates a renewed investigation into a previously reported sexual assault after DNA testing or other evidence has revealed the identity of the offender, a victim would be eligible to apply for compensation, even if the deadline for submitting an application has passed. The bill gives states three years to update their laws or regulations to ensure fairness for survivors.