The Violence Against Women Act was signed by President Biden on Tuesday. It includes provisions from a bipartisan bill that will expand access to care for victims and survivors of sexual assault.
After hearing Leah Griffin's story, a constituent from Seattle, Patty Murray , a Washington senator, drafted the legislation. She claimed she couldn't get a rape exam at her local hospital in 2014.
"I went to an emergency room. Griffin stated, "I told them what had happened." "They shrugged and said that they didn't offer rape kits. After hours, I was able get a rape package at another hospital in the city. My case was ruined by delays in treatment, and I did not get justice.
But she has received justice of another kind through new legislation that aims to develop national standards for care for victims and survivors of sexual assault. Violence Against Women Act includes provisions that better understand the issue and establish a federal grant program to encourage hospitals to train sexual assault nurse examiners.
Murray stated that his goal was to have a nurse trained in 'SANE' nursing to be able help victims of sexual assault and process any evidence they require.
Murray requested a Government Accountability Office 2016 report. It found a serious lack of information and a dearth of resources.
Murray stated that he was shocked at the number of hospitals and health care providers who didn't have anyone trained to perform this work. "I've had many people approach me on the streets to tell me that they have had similar experiences since I started working on this project."
Murray's cosponsor, Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski says that sex attack victims in rural areas of Alaska must fly to get the care they need.
This legislation was recently passed to fix any remaining gaps in the system, with the ultimate goal to prevent what happened to Griffin from happening to anyone else.
Griffin stated, "We don’t know how large this problem is."
She hopes that the bill will help the government better understand the current needs and provide grant funding for those communities most in need.
She said, "To finally see it through the finish line is an accomplishment of a lifetime."
