Cornyn, Cotton, Grassley Bill to Help Solve Cold Cases Heads to President's Desk

Press Release

U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Tom Cotton (R-AR), and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) released the following statements after the Homicide Victims' Families' Rights Act, which requires federal agencies to revisit cold case murder files and apply new technologies in search of potential breakthroughs, passed the Senate. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chris Coons (D-DE), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and John Kennedy (R-LA) also cosponsored the legislation.

"This legislation will help ensure federal law enforcement reviews sometimes decades-old cold case files and appliesthe latest technologies and investigative standards," said Sen. Cornyn. "This process will help bring grieving families resolution in the midst of tragic circumstances, and I look forward to this being signed into law."

"Families should have the right to ask for a review of a cold-case where an improvement in forensics may help solve the crime, bringing long-deserved closure to bereaved relatives. Our bill empowers families to do just that--President Biden should sign it immediately." said Sen. Cotton.

"Families who have lost a loved one due to a senseless act of murder deserve the opportunity to seek justice for the crime committed against them. This bill expands the rights of victims while providing needed transparency in the reopening of cold cases," said Sen. Grassley.

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