The rape kit backlogs in 27 states are about to be cleared — but it's going to cost $79 million

The federal government and the New York City district attorney are teaming up to provide a total of $79 million to clear out backlogged rape kits in the U.S., the White House announced Thursday. The federal government will be giving $41 million in grants to the project, and New York will provide $38 million to speed up the testing of sexual assault evidence kits and ultimately clear 27 states' backlogs.

The backlog has long been an issue for both law enforcement and women's groups, The Hill reports. "When we solve these cases, we get rapists off the streets," Vice President Joe Biden said in a statement. "The grants we're announcing today to reduce the national rape kit backlog will bring that sense of closure and safety to victims while improving community safety."

Biden added that 50 percent of unsolved rapes are solved once rape kits are tested. "Hundreds of thousands" of rape kits across the U.S. have yet to be tested.

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