U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney Calls For Increased Funding For Rape Kit Testing

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney is calling for an increase of federal funding to help resolve a large backlog of unprocessed DNA tests in thousands of open rape investigations.

Law enforcement agencies routinely collect DNA samples after women are attacked, but getting the evidence tested isn't always easy or fast.

Maloney's office says there is currently a backlog of 400,000 rape kits waiting for analysis.

The federal government has been making millions of dollars available to help medical examiners speed testing since 2004. That law is set to expire this year.

At a news conference on Saturday, Maloney called for an extension of the law, as well as an increase in funding.

The Manhattan Democrat was joined by a woman whose rape case was solved after 15 years when old DNA evidence finally got tested.

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