Trump sings bill to eliminate rape kit backlog News
(Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)
Trump sings bill to eliminate rape kit backlog

US President Trump on Monday signed a bill that will help eliminate rape kit backlogs throughout the country.

HR 777, also known as the Debbie Smith Reauthorization Act, authorizes up to $151,000,000 in funding per year to state and local governments to process and test DNA evidence.

The Act renews the Debbie Smith Act, which had expired at the end of 2019. The initial Debbie Smith Act was enacted in 2004 and had been reauthorized twice (in 2008 and 2014) before this latest reauthorization.

Unlike the original Debbie Smith Act, the Debbie Smith Reauthorization Act prioritizes testing of DNA evidence in rape kits. The Act aims to eliminate the backlog of untested and unanalyzed DNA evidence in rape kits, thus ensuring that sexual assault perpetrators are prosecuted.

The Act also funds DNA training and education programs and is valid until 2024.

THIS DAY @ LAW

New law makes Hitler dictator of Germany

On August 3, 1934, the German Parliament passed a law that combined the offices of President and Chancellor, making Adolf Hitler the supreme leader (Fuehrer und Reichskanzler) of Germany. Prior to the law's passage, Hitler had been the German Chancellor with Paul von Hindenberg serving as President. However, Hindenberg died on August 2, and Parliament was pressured to combine the two offices instead of holding an election to replace the deceased President of Germany.

US Congress passed first law regulating immigration

On August 3, 1882, Congress passed the first federal law regulating immigration. Under the statute, state-run boards under contract to the US Secretary of the Treasury were to inspect immigrants according to rules that were uniform in all ports. Boards were prohibited from admitting any immigrant found to be a "convict, lunatic, idiot or any person unable to take care of him or herself without becoming a public charge."

Learn more about eugenics laws restricting immigration.