Cornyn: Houston Area to Receive $3.6M to Help Reduce Rape Kit Backlog

Senator John Cornyn

Two local entities in the Houston area were awarded grants totaling $3,644,658 to help reduce the national DNA kit backlog, U.S. Senator John Cornyn announced today. The funding comes through the Department of Justice as part of the Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program. Sen. Cornyn has long fought to eliminate our national backlog of untested DNA and rape kits, and has successfully passed three separate laws to help mitigate this ongoing crisis. This funding is authorized by the Debbie Smith Act.

“As long as rape kits sit untested, authorities are failing the victims and communities we’ve sworn to protect,” said Sen. Cornyn. “I am proud to have authored three laws to help drive down our national backlog, and I’ll continue to do everything I can to ensure survivors receive the closure they deserve and that justice is served.” 

Recipient Project Title Award Amount
 

Houston Forensic Science Center

FY22 DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program  

$2,472,393

 

Harris County Clerk’s Office

FY22 DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program  

$1,172,265

TOTAL   $3,644,658

Senator John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, is a member of the Senate Finance, Intelligence, and Judiciary Committees.