For immediate release

Contact: Jeff Lungren/Terry Shawn

202-225-2492

October 8, 2003

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The House Judiciary Committee today passed comprehensive DNA legislation by a 28 to 1 margin. The legislation, introduced by House Judiciary Committee Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. (R-Wis.), includes $755 million to enact President Bush’s initiative to reduce the backlog of unanalyzed DNA evidence. Experts believe hundreds of thousands of rape kits and other DNA evidence remains unanalyzed in crime labs across the country. H.R. 3214, the “Advancing Justice Through DNA Technology Act of 2003", is expected on the House floor later this month.

“DNA can identify criminals with pinpoint accuracy and clear those erroneously suspected of crimes. This legislation will help us make better use of this DNA technology in a way that improves fairness and accuracy in our criminal justice system,” said Chairman Sensenbrenner.

This legislation incorporates the Innocence Protection Act, including authorizing $500 million over five years to improve the legal representation in death penalty cases. H.R. 3214 also includes greater access to post-conviction DNA testing as well as over $200 million over the next five years in additional grant money to train law enforcement, correctional, court, and medical personnel on the use of DNA evidence. This legislation funds research to improve forensic technology and authorizes $10 million per year in grants to states, local governments, and tribal governments to eliminate forensic backlogs.

H.R. 3214 represents a bipartisan, bicameral compromise negotiated over many months and has already gained 148 House cosponsors since its introduction last week. Identical legislation has been introduced in the Senate (S. 1700) by Sen. Orrin Hatch and has significant bipartisan support.

More information about H.R. 3214 is available at www.house.gov/judiciary/press and view documents dated under October 1, 2003.