Congressman wants changes for rape kit testing

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- A South Bay congressman is asking the FBI to take measures to reduce the backlog of untested rape kits by streamlining the entire process.

Rep. Mike Honda, D-San Jose, wants the FBI to agree on a plan to eliminate lengthy steps in the process, and allow private labs to help with the testing.

It's an issue the ABC7 News I-Team has been reporting on for months.

They revealed hundreds of kits, containing DNA evidence from rape investigations, have gone untested throughout the Bay Area.

Honda has asked the FBI to allow Alameda County to serve as a pilot region for the project.