The House approved legislation Tuesday that would reauthorize Department of Justice grant programs for for DNA testing and forensic analysis in criminal investigations, but chops authorized spending by about a quarter compared to a Senate version of the bill.
Lawmakers approved a House version of the Justice for All Reauthorization Act. That bill keeps up funding for the grant programs, and also requires the Justice Department and the Government Accountability Office to prepare reports on criminal justice issues.
The Senate passed the bill over the summer, and authorized $418 million in spending from 2017-21. The House bill, which passed by voice vote, authorizes $292 million.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., applauded the vote and said it would maintain needed grant funding around the country.
“For over a decade, the Justice for All Act has done a tremendous amount of good to improve our nation’s criminal justice system and strengthen crime victims’ rights. I am pleased the House has reauthorized and improved the Justice for All Act to further this good work,” he said in a statement.
The Justice For All Reauthorization Act strengthens crime victims’ rights and programs by increasing restitution for crime victims. It also requires that interpreters be available to all federal crime victims who will be part of court proceedings.
Programs that are used to notify crime victims of their rights and provide them with legal assistance will also be reauthorized.
The bill aims to reduce the national rape kit backlog by giving more resources to forensic labs, and also gives grant money to labs to increase their access to post-conviction DNA testing, thus helping to prevent wrongful convictions.
