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(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
Survivors' Bill of Rights Act of 2016
(Sec. 3) This bill amends the federal criminal code to establish statutory rights for sexual assault survivors, including the right to: (1) not be prevented from receiving a forensic medical examination and not be charged for an examination; (2) have a sexual assault evidence collection kit (i.e., a rape kit) preserved for 20 years or the maximum applicable statute of limitations, whichever is shorter; (3) receive written notification prior to destruction or disposal of a rape kit; and (4) be informed of these rights and policies. Additionally, it makes statutory crime victims' rights applicable to sexual assault survivors.
The term "sexual assault" means any nonconsensual sexual act prohibited by federal, state, or tribal law, including when a victim lacks capacity to consent.
Funds made available to the Crime Victims Fund under the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 must be used to carry out the requirements concerning these rights, subject to specified exceptions.
The bill amends the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 to authorize the Department of Justice's (DOJ's) Office of Justice Programs to make grants to states to develop sexual assault survivors' rights and policies and to disseminate written notice of such rights and policies to medical centers, hospitals, forensic examiners, sexual assault service providers, law enforcement agencies, and other state entities.
(Sec. 4) DOJ must establish a working group to develop, coordinate, and disseminate best practices regarding the care and treatment of sexual assault survivors and the preservation of forensic evidence.
Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, describing H.R. 5578 as public Law on Oct 7, 2016. It is not the text of the measure; a later amendment may have changed what it does.
House Sep 6, 2016
Survivors’ Bill of Rights Act of 2016
Passed · Two-thirds required
399 Yea 0 Nay 32 not voting
Crossed both parties No voting member broke with their own party.
DemocratsRepublicansFilled: YeaRing: NayGrey: not voting or present
431 members on this roll call, from the official House record. Party majorities need at least five voting members, so an independent never counts as breaking with a party.
Signing on is not a vote: a member can cosponsor H.R. 5578 and vote against it. 26 signed when it was filed.
Organizations that named H.R. 5578 in a lobbying disclosure. Only those that cited the bill by number appear, so this is a floor, not a full list.
7 disclosures name this measure. Retrieved from LDA.gov on 2026-10-05. Senate Office of Public Records cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from LDA.gov.