Advocacy
The CFSO was pleased to be invited by the United States Congress House Science Committee to testify about the accomplishments of the forensic science community in the last ten years and current and future needs of the forensic science community on September 10, 2019. The hearing was titled "Raising the Bar: Progress and Future Needs in Forensic Science." There were five witnesses: our Chairman Mr. Matthew Gamette, Lab System Director, Idaho State Police Forensic Services; Ms. Susan Ballou (NIST), Ms. Lynn Garcia (Texas Forensic Science Commission), Ms. Vicki Zemp Behenna (Oklahoma Innocence Project), and Dr. Karen Kafadar (University of Virginia). You can watch the hearing on the link below and read the testimony.
https://science.house.gov/hearings/raising-the-bar-progress-and-future-needs-in-forensic-science
The CFSO was pleased to be invited by the United States Congress Senate Judiciary Committee to testify about the needs of the State and Local Forensic Science Community on July 18, 2018. The hearing was titled "Promoting Justice for Victims of Crime-Examining the Federal Investment in DNA Analysis." There were three witnesses: Ms. Penny Nance (Concerned Women for America); our Chairman Mr. Matthew Gamette, Lab System Director, Idaho State Police Forensic Services; Ms. Debbie Smith (HEART). You can watch the hearing on the link below and read the testimony.
The CFSO was pleased to be invited by the United States Congress House Judiciary Committee to testify about the needs of the State and Local Forensic Science Community on March 28, 2017. The hearing was titled "To examine the state of forensic science in the United States." There were four witnesses: Dr. Victor Weedn, MD, JD, Professor of Forensic Sciences at George Washington University; our Chairman Mr. Matthew Gamette, Lab System Director, Idaho State Police Forensic Services; Dr. David Baldwin, National Security Technologies, LLC and former Director of the Ames Iowa based Midwest Forensic Resource Center; and Ms. Sandra Guerra Thompson for the University of Houston Law Center. You can watch the hearing on the link below and read the testimony.
https://judiciary.house.gov/hearing/examine-state-forensic-science-united-states/
CFSO MEMO 2020 Sunshine Act (H.R. 2271 and S. 1130, the "Scarlett's Sunshine on Unexpected Death Act")
BJA presentation about JustGrants System and Troubleshooting
BJA slides for presentation about JustGrants System and Troubleshooting
AG Support Letter NamUs Letter
Scarlets Sunshine Act | CFSO Memo
CFSO Hill Support Letter FFY20
CFSO Presentation to AAFS 2020
Comments to the federal register for the USDA Hemp regulations open comment period
Debbie Smith Act Bill Comparison and Passage — December 18, 2019
Opioid Responses
- Health Committee Opioid Testimony — November 29, 2017
- ASCLD Position Statement to the President's Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis — October 27, 2017
- Statement of the AAFS Board Of Directors on the Opioid Crisis Response — October 31, 2017
- National Assn of Medical Examiners Opiod Response — October 26, 2017
- College of American Pathologists Opiod Comments — October 31, 2017
OSAC 2.0 Responses from CFSO Member Organizations
CFSO FY20 June 2019 Forensic Update
Stakeholders Letter on Byrne JAG in FY20 with signatures
CFSO Recognizes NAS Tenth Anniversary
CFSO FY2019 Budget Memo — February 16, 2018
Senator Shaheen S.2008 Legislation Support Letter — November 6, 2017
PowerPoint Presentation to the IAI 2017
Stakeholder Sign-on Letter on Final OJP OVW COPS Funding — April 10, 2017
Forensic Service Providers Support Attorney General Sessions Forensic Initiative 4.14.2017
Medical Examiner Funding Briefing
AAFS CFSO Presentation — February 13, 2017
Hatch Rapid Support Letter — January 11, 2017
Letter to the House leadership encouraging suspension of Cutgo rules for JFAA — July 12, 2016
Passage of the 2016 Senate Justice for All Reauthorization Act — June 16, 2016
JFAA and Rapid DNA Update — May 16, 2016
CFSO Senate FY17 Budget Update — April 24, 2016
Response to Proposed Draft of Potential Cognitive Bias Legislation — April 24, 2016
AAFS CFSO Presentation Post — February 22, 2016
CFSO Response to PCAST Survey 1.8.2016 — January 8, 2016
Request for increase in CJS302b Allocation — November 5, 2015
Final Rapid Letter of Support — October 1, 2015
FBI Letter on Allelic Frequency Tables — May 27, 2015
Notice of Amendment of the FBI's STR Population Data Published in 1999 and 2001 — June 3, 2015
Letter to Attorney General Requesting FBI Hair Review Project Inclusion — May 12, 2015
Coverdell Appropriations Request — March 10, 2015
CFSO Position Statement on HR 320: Rapid DNA Act of 2015 — March 11, 2015
Needed Subcommittees on OSAC Structure — March 9, 2015
Final Forensic Budget CFSO Infomation — December 2014
Attorney General Letter on Coverdell 2014 — November 17, 2014
Medicolegal Death Investigation — December 2013
Scientific Working Groups in Forensic Science — December 2013
Certification of Forensic Science Practitioners — December 2013
Accreditation of Entities Providing Forensic Science Services — December 2013
CFSO Response to NIST Solicitation – November 12, 2013
National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) Response to NIST – November 12, 2013
Testimony of Jill Spriggs before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
Senate Bill S. 132: To establish an Office of Forensic Science and a Forensic Science Board