WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) today released the following statement after voting in favor of the bipartisan Adam Walsh Reauthorization Act: “I am grateful to Senator Grassley for his leadership and work on this important, bipartisan legislation which reauthorizes federal programs to improve the tracking of sex offenders and introduces new rights for victims of sexual assault. “Under the Adam Walsh Reauthorization Act, state, local, and tribal governments will continue to receive federal support in their efforts to implement and improve sex offender registries, promote a heightened awareness of these criminals, and ultimately ensure greater public safety. “In addition, this legislation provides added rights and protections to victims of sexual assault. The bill creates a joint working group to collaborate on best practices for treating survivors of sexual assault, and it also extends the statute of limitations for child survivors to file civil lawsuits against perpetrators. “We absolutely must do all we can to both protect the survivors of sexual assault and try to prevent such heinous crimes from happening in the first place.” ### |