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United States · Law · HR

H.R. 5578 (114th)

Survivors' Bill of Rights Act of 2016

enactedUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

24 June 2016

Last action

7 October 2016 · President

Status

Became Public Law No: 114-236.

Sponsors

Rep. Walters, Mimi [R-CA-45], Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18], Rep. Goodlatte, Bob [R-VA-6], Rep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-13], Rep. Gowdy, Trey [R-SC-4], Rep. Costello, Ryan A. [R-PA-6], Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18], Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12], Rep. Smith, Lamar [R-TX-21], Rep. Brooks, Susan W. [R-IN-5], Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5], Rep. Richmond, Cedric L. [D-LA-2], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Comstock, Barbara [R-VA-10], Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21], Rep. Herrera Beutler, Jaime [R-WA-3], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9], Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8], Rep. Jeffries, Hakeem S. [D-NY-8], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Tsongas, Niki [D-MA-3], Rep. Lowenthal, Alan S. [D-CA-47], Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25], Rep. Speier, Jackie [D-CA-14], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], Rep. Farr, Sam [D-CA-20], Rep. Wagner, Ann [R-MO-2], Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. Posey, Bill [R-FL-8], Rep. Issa, Darrell [R-CA-48], Rep. Slaughter, Louise McIntosh [D-NY-25], Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1], Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50], Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39], Rep. Kuster, Ann M. [D-NH-2], Rep. Hastings, Alcee L. [D-FL-20], Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2], Rep. Meehan, Patrick [R-PA-7], Rep. Loebsack, David [D-IA-2]

Subjects

Discovery layer

Source updated

10 August 2026

Official sourceDownload fileView documentsShare

Summary

Survivors' Bill of Rights Act of 2016 This bill amends the federal criminal code to establish statutory rights for sexual assault survivors, including the right to: (1) not be prevented from receiving a forensic medical examination and not be charged for an examination; (2) have a sexual assault evidence collection kit (i.e., a rape kit) preserved for 20 years or the maximum applicable statute of limitations, whichever is shorter; (3) receive written notification prior to destruction or disposal of a rape kit; and (4) be informed of these rights and policies. Additionally, it makes statutory crime victims' rights applicable to sexual assault survivors. The term "sexual assault" means any nonconsensual sexual act prohibited by federal, state, or tribal law, including when a victim lacks capacity to consent. Funds made available to the Crime Victims Fund under the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 must be used to carry out the requirements concerning these rights, subject to specified exceptions. The bill amends the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 to authorize the Department of Justice's (DOJ's) Office of Justice Programs to make grants to states to develop sexual assault survivors' rights and policies and to disseminate written notice of such rights and policies to medical centers, hospitals, forensic examiners, sexual assault service providers, law enforcement agencies, and other state entities. DOJ must establish a working group to develop, coordinate, and disseminate best practices regarding the care and treatment of sexual assault survivors and the preservation of forensic evidence.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 24 June 2016

    Introduced

    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 24 June 2016

    Introduced

    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 24 June 2016

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 24 June 2016

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  5. 30 June 2016

    Referred

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.

    Source: Committee

  6. 5 July 2016

    Committee

    Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations Discharged.

    Source: Committee

  7. 7 July 2016

    Reported

    Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.

    Source: Committee

  8. 7 July 2016

    Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Source: Committee

  9. 6 September 2016

    Calendars

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 546.

    Source: Calendars

  10. 6 September 2016

    Passed

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

    Source: Floor

  11. 6 September 2016

    Vote

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 399 - 0 (Roll no. 479). (text: CR H5045-5046)

    Source: Floor

  12. 6 September 2016

    Vote

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 399 - 0 (Roll no. 479).(text: CR H5045-5046)

    Source: Floor

  13. 6 September 2016

    Floor

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5045-5049)

    Source: Floor

  14. 6 September 2016

    Vote

    At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

    Source: Floor

  15. 6 September 2016

    Floor

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5578.

    Source: Floor

  16. 6 September 2016

    Floor

    Mr. Goodlatte moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

    Source: Floor

  17. 6 September 2016

    Discharge

    Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged.

    Source: Discharge

  18. 6 September 2016

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged.

    Source: Committee

  19. 6 September 2016

    Reported

    Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 114-707, Part I.

    Source: Committee

  20. 6 September 2016

    Reported

    Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 114-707, Part I.

    Source: Committee

  21. 7 September 2016

    Introduced

    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

    Source: IntroReferral

  22. 28 September 2016

    Passed

    Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.

    Source: Floor

  23. 28 September 2016

    Passed

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.

    Source: Floor

  24. 28 September 2016

    Discharge

    Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6198-6199)

    Source: Discharge

  25. 28 September 2016

    Committee

    Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S6198-6199)

    Source: Committee

  26. 3 October 2016

    Floor

    Presented to President.

    Source: Floor

  27. 3 October 2016

    President

    Presented to President.

    Source: President

  28. 7 October 2016

    Became law

    Became Public Law No: 114-236.

    Source: President

  29. 7 October 2016

    Became law

    Signed by President.

    Source: BecameLaw

  30. 7 October 2016

    President

    Signed by President.

    Source: President

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

14 official files

Enrolled Bill (text)

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  • Enrolled Bill (text)

    Enrolled Bill · EN

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  • Enrolled Bill (PDF)

    Enrolled Bill · EN

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  • Public Law (text)

    Public Law · EN · 7 October 2016

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  • Public Law (PDF)

    Public Law · EN · 7 October 2016

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  • Public Law

    summary · EN · 7 October 2016

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  • Referred in Senate (text)

    Referred in Senate · EN · 7 September 2016

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  • Referred in Senate (PDF)

    Referred in Senate · EN · 7 September 2016

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  • Engrossed in House (text)

    Engrossed in House · EN · 6 September 2016

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  • Engrossed in House (PDF)

    Engrossed in House · EN · 6 September 2016

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  • Reported in House (text)

    Reported in House · EN · 6 September 2016

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  • Reported in House (PDF)

    Reported in House · EN · 6 September 2016

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  • Introduced in House (text)

    Introduced in House · EN · 24 June 2016

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  • Introduced in House (PDF)

    Introduced in House · EN · 24 June 2016

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  • Introduced in House

    summary · EN · 24 June 2016

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