SA 884. Mr. VITTER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 2112, making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2012, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

After section 217 of title II of division B, insert the following:
Sec. 218. (a) Audit of DNA and Rape Kit Backlog Grants.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study of any grants awarded for the purpose of preventing or reducing DNA and rape kit backlogs by the Department of Justice using amounts made available under this Act, and any such grants made during the preceding 4 fiscal years, to determine whether the grant funds are being used to the maximum extent to--
(1) reduce and prevent DNA and rape kit backlogs; and
(2) increase the capacity of State and local laboratories in analyzing DNA and rape kits.
(b) Contents.--The study required under subsection (a) shall--
(1) include an analysis of what proportion of grant dollars, annually, are provided to--
(A) State and local laboratories;
(B) non-government entities; and
(C) the National Institute of Justice program office;
(2) detail the methodology used to distribute grant dollars, particularly through the discretionary authority of the National Institute of Justice; and
(3) include an analysis of how the National Institute of Justice inventories and compiles grant data and results, including--
(A) a breakdown of the amount of funds provided to non-government DNA laboratories on an annual basis; and
(B) a description of the contribution of the National Institute of Justice towards increasing capacity and reducing backlogs for government DNA laboratories.


(As printed in the Congressional Record for the Senate on Oct 19, 2011.)