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S. 2349Senate115th Congress (2017-2019)Passed Senate

Improve Data on Sexual Violence Act

Sponsored by Claire McCaskillSen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO)
Introduced January 29, 2018

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 8:10 PM UTC

The Improve Data on Sexual Violence Act requires the Office of Management and Budget to create an interagency working group that reviews how the federal government gathers information on sexual violence. Within two years, the group must report to Congress with recommendations to make data collection more consistent, clear, and avoid double‑counting. The effort is aimed at improving the quality and public understanding of sexual‑violence statistics across multiple federal agencies.

Key Provisions

  • The OMB director must establish the working group within 180 days of the law’s enactment.
  • The group must include at least one representative from CDC, the Department of Defense, the Department of Education, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Justice.
  • The group will examine definitions of sexual violence, consistency of terminology, the impact of context on reporting, public presentation of data, and ways to prevent double‑counting incidents.
  • Within two years, the group must submit a report to Congress detailing its activities, recommendations for harmonizing data collection, steps agencies can take, and suggested congressional actions.
  • The working group will dissolve 30 days after submitting its final report.

Legislative Activity

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8 earlier actions
HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

May 17, 2018

View full timeline
SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

January 29, 2018

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

January 29, 2018

SenateCommittee

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

February 14, 2018

SenateCommittee

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson without amendment. With written report No. 115-238.

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

May 7, 2018

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 395.

May 7, 2018

SenateFloor

Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2731; text: CR S2731)

May 16, 2018

HouseFloor

Received in the House.

May 17, 2018 • 1:25 PM

SenateFloor

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

May 17, 2018

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

May 17, 2018

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about S. 2349 on the floor

1 Republican
Mitch McConnell
Sen. Mitch McConnellR-KY · May 16, 2018

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 395, S. 2349. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a…

Record

Bill Text

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Referred in HouseIssued May 17, 2018

IC

115th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 2349

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 17, 2018

Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

AN ACT

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 lead 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.

Passed the Senate May 16, 2018.

Julie E. Adams,

Secretary