WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) applauded the unanimous Senate passage of their Justice for Murder Victims Act. The bipartisan bill would strike down the “year-and-a-day” rule, which prohibits murder prosecutions against individuals whose victims die more than a year-and-a-day after they were assaulted.
The bill now awaits passage in the House of Representatives, where Reps. Tom Tiffany (R-Wis.) and Lucy McBath (D-Ga.) lead companion legislation.
“The power of modern medicine shouldn’t determine whether a murderer is held accountable. Our bipartisan bill would put an end to the archaic ‘year-and-a-day' rule to ensure justice is served and families get the closure they deserve,” Grassley said. “I urge my colleagues in the House to swiftly pass this commonsense bill.”
“Murderers and violent criminals must be held accountable. The Senate passed our bipartisan legislation to help secure justice for homicide victims and their families,” Ossoff said.
The Justice for Murder Victims Act is endorsed by the National District Attorney’s Association, the Iowa County Attorney’s Association, the National Organization of Parents of Murdered Children, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, the Major County Sheriffs of America, the Murder Accountability Project, the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys and the Major Cities Chiefs Association.
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