{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/cornyn-leahy-bill-strengthen-victims%E2%80%99-rights-signed-law", "Cornyn, Leahy Bill to Strengthen Victims\u2019 Rights Signed Into Law", "2016-12-16", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "John Cornyn", "C001056", "www.cornyn.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) released the following statement after President Obama signed the Justice for All Reauthorization Act into law:\n\u201cSigning the Justice for All Reauthorization Act into law is a tremendous step forward for victims across the country and those who protect them, and I\u2019m thankful for Senator Leahy\u2019s role in getting this to the President\u2019s desk,\u201d said Sen. Cornyn. \u201cBy providing law enforcement with the resources necessary to put criminals behind bars and reducing the backlog of untested rape kits, we can help restore the lives of victims across the nation. This is how Congress is supposed to work\u2014in a bipartisan way, on behalf of the most vulnerable in our society.\u201d\n\"Although there is more to be done, the Justice for All Reauthorization Act takes important steps to even the scales of our justice system. \u00a0This criminal justice reform law will improve our indigent defense system, ensure access to post-conviction DNA testing, and make sure that the rights of crime victims, including survivors of sexual assault, are protected,\u201d Sen. Leahy said.\u00a0 \u201cI will continue to fight alongside leaders like Kirk Bloodsworth, the first person exonerated by DNA evidence after being sentenced to die,\u00a0and Debbie Smith, who fought for years to have her rape kit tested, to ensure our criminal justice system has integrity and inspires confidence.\u00a0 I thank Senator Cornyn for working with me and bipartisan leaders in the House for supporting our legislation.\u00a0 As we consider legislation next Congress, we must remember that we have a continuing obligation to look out for all victims and to create fairness in our criminal justice system.\u201d\nThe Justice for all Reauthorization Act of 2016\u00a0passed the Senate unanimously last week. The legislation strengthens crime victims\u2019 rights in the courtroom, increases access to restitution and restorative services, and reauthorizes important law enforcement investigative programs. The bill would help reduce the nationwide rape kit backlog and provide resources for forensic labs while protecting the innocent by improving access to post-conviction DNA testing.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/cornyn-leahy-bill-strengthen-victims%E2%80%99-rights-signed-law"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.7368006519973278, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}