debbie smith herself has endorsed these provisions. the majority bill has no such provisions, making sure that money that is claimed to reduce the rape kit backlog actually does so is pro-victim. true reform in the violence against women reauthorization should further that goal. combating violence against women also means tougher penalties for those who commit these terrible crimes. the hutchinson-grassley substitute creates a ten-year mandatory minimum sentence for federal conviction for forcible rape. the majority bill establishes a five-year mandatory minimum sentence. that provision is only there because republicans offered it and we won that point in our committee. child pornography is an actual record of a crime scene of violence against women. our alearn tiff -- alternative establishes a one-year mandatory minimum sentence for possession of child pornography where the victim depicted is under 12 years of age. i believe that the mandatory minimum for this crime should be higher in light of the lenient sentences that many federal

my name is debbie smith. a run an ngo kids with disabilities in afghanistan and kabul. my question is for corey, in regards to your comments on the increase of boots on the ground, vis-a-vis state department assets, it's been my observation watching things in -- >> make the question very brief, please. >> yes, i'm sorry. that we have approached it from more of a top down as far as development instead of bottom up. i'm wondering if you could just speak to that? >> and the final question back by the back door, please. >> thank you. i first wanted to thank you for your comment about how the military does everything right and all the rest of the government is -- does everything horribly. >> please identify yourself, sir. >> no, just joking. my question is, how can we engage militarily, or is it even possible to engage militarily in a cooperative manner when diplomatic channels tend to close up or tensions tend to increase? is that even possible? should our military leaders actually continue to push engagements despite military -- or diplomatic tensions? or is it just inevit

the debbie smith act was passed because of a woman named debbie smith who was subjected to the most vial, repugnant, despicable acts of violence against her. what we do working here is that we've actually put money in the federal checkbook to reduce the backlog, to reduce the backlog of d.n.a. evidence. it ensures that a high percentage of the funds also go to labs to be able to deal with samples from crime scenes, the databases, and others. if we do debate this rape kit issue at a later time, i want to thank senator leahy for his advocacy and senator cornyn for his sensitivity in wanting to solve the problem. i believe if we take a minute and we keep in our mind and as our legislative goal that we work together, not who gets credit but who gets help; its not about who gets credit. it's about who gets help. we want to be able to help those relationship victims, have solace that their government is on their side, to make sure that we have the right person and have the right prosecution to get the right conviction. and right now there is a backlog. when justice gives out their money for fo

debbie smith herself has endorsed these provisions.the majority bill has no such provisions, making sure that money that is claimed to reduce the rape kit backlog actually does so is pro-victim. true reform in the violence against women reauthorization should further that goal. combating violence against women also means tougher penalties for those who commit these terrible crimes. the hutchinson-grassley substitute creates a ten-year mandatory minimum sentence for federal conviction for forcible rape. the majority bill establishes a five-year mandatory minimum sentence. that provision is only there because republicans offered it and we won that point in our committee. child pornography is an actual record of a crime scene of violence against women. our alearn tiff -- alternative establishes a one-year mandatory minimum sentence for possession of child pornography where the victim depicted is under 12 years of age. i believe that the mandatory minimum for this crime should be higher in light of the lenient sentences that many federal j

the justice for victims amendment would reserve 7% of existing debbie smith act grant funding for the purpose of helping state and local governments to conduct audits of their rape kit backlogs. in my hometown of san antonio, the police department recently conducted such an audit of their evidence storage facilities using similar grant funding from the state of texas. they identified more than 5,000 -- and just in san antonio alone -- 5,000 untested sexual assault kits, of which 2,000 they determined should be submitted promptly for testing. my amendment would use existing appropriations to encourage miles-per-hour audits like -- to encourage more audits like this. it would add accountability by requiring grantees of these funds to upload critical information about the size, scope, and status of their backlog into a new sexual assault evidence forensic registry. this valuable information would also help the national institute of justice better target the approximately $100 million of existing appropriations already available for this type of testing. and in the spirit of open governme

my name is debbie smith, i run an ngo and we're build a school for kids with disabilities in afghanistan and kabul. my question is for kori. in regards to your comments on the increase of boots on the ground these of the state department, assets -- vis-À-vis state department, it's been my observation watching things in -- >> make the question very brief. >> yes, i'm sorry. that we have approached it from more of a top down as far as development instead of bottom up and up wondering if you could just speak to that. >> and the final question backed by the back door, police. >> thank you. i first wanted to thank you for your comment about how the military does everything right and all the rest of the government does everything horribly. spent identify yourself. >> know, just joking. my question is, how can we engage militarily, or is it even possible to engage militarily in a cooperative manner when diplomatic channels and to close up or tensions tend to increase? is that even possible? should our military leaders actually continue to push engagements, despite diplomatic tensions, or is it

debbie smith herself has endorsed these provisions. the majority bill has no such provisions, making sure that money that is claimed to reduce the rape kit backlog actually does so is pro-victim. true reform in the violence against women reauthorization should further that goal. combating violence against women also means tougher penalties for those who commit these terrible crimes. the hutchinson-grassley substitute creates a ten-year mandatory minimum sentence for federal conviction for forcible rape. the majority bill establishes a five-year mandatory minimum sentence. that provision is only there because republicans offered it and we won that point in our committee. child pornography is an actual record of a crime scene of violence against women. our alearn tiff -- alternative establishes a one-year mandatory minimum sentence for possession of child pornography where the victim depicted is under 12 years of age. i believe that the mandatory minimum for this crime should be higher in light of the lenient sentences that many federal