H.R. 4893 – Improve Data on Sexual Violence Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 8:07 PM UTC

The Improve Data on Sexual Violence Act requires the Office of Management and Budget to create an interagency working group that will review how the federal government gathers information on sexual violence. The group, made up of representatives from key agencies, will study definitions, reporting methods, and ways to avoid duplicate counts, then issue recommendations to make data collection more consistent and understandable for the public.

Key Provisions

Within 180 days of the law’s enactment, the OMB director must form a working group with at least one member each from the CDC, Department of Defense, Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services, and Department of Justice.
The group will examine what actions count as sexual violence, whether agencies use the same terminology, how context should affect reporting, how data are presented to the public, and how to prevent double‑counting of incidents.
The working group must submit a report to Congress no later than two years after enactment, outlining its activities, recommendations for harmonizing data collection, steps agencies can take, and suggested congressional actions.
The working group will dissolve 30 days after delivering its report.

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.

Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee

February 7, 2018

View full timeline

HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

January 29, 2018

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

January 29, 2018

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.

Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee

February 7, 2018

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

Reading Mode

Raw Text PDF XML

Introduced in HouseIssued January 29, 2018

I

115th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 4893

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 29, 2018

Ms. Kuster of New Hampshire (for herself and Mr. Turner) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To direct the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to establish an interagency working group to study Federal efforts to collect data on sexual violence and to make recommendations on the harmonization of such efforts, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Improve Data on Sexual Violence Act.

2.

Interagency working group to study Federal efforts to collect data on sexual violence

(a)

Establishment

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall establish an interagency working group (in this section referred to as the Working Group) to study Federal efforts to collect data on sexual violence and to make recommendations on the harmonization of such efforts.

(b)

Composition

The Working Group shall be comprised of at least one representative from the following agencies, who shall be selected by the head of that agency:

(1)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

(2)

The Department of Defense.

(3)

The Department of Education.

(4)

The Department of Health and Human Services.

(5)

The Department of Justice.

(c)

Duties

The Working Group shall consider the following:

(1)

What activity constitutes different acts of sexual violence.

(2)

Whether reports that use the same terms for acts of sexual violence are collecting the same data on these acts.

(3)

Whether the context which led to an act of sexual violence should impact how that act is accounted for in reports.

(4)

Whether the data collected is presented in a way that allows the general public to understand what acts of sexual violence are included in each measurement.

(5)

Steps that agencies that compile reports relating to sexual violence can take to avoid double counting incidents of sexual violence.

(d)

Report required

Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Working Group shall publish and submit to Congress a report on the following:

(1)

The activities of the Working Group.

(2)

Recommendations to harmonize Federal efforts to collect data on sexual violence.

(3)

Actions Federal agencies can take to implement the recommendations described in paragraph (2).

(4)

Recommendations for congressional action to implement the recommendations described in paragraph (2).

(e)

Termination

The Working Group shall terminate 30 days after the date on which the report is submitted pursuant to subsection (d).

(f)

Definitions

In this Act:

(1)

Harmonize

The term harmonize includes efforts to coordinate sexual violence data collection to produce complementary information, as appropriate, without compromising programmatic needs.

(2)

Sexual violence

The term sexual violence includes an unwanted sexual act (including both contact and non-contact) about which the Federal Government collects information.