Rep. Rebecca Raymer honored with Champion for Justice Award at Western Kentucky Heart & Lung

Published May 29, 2025

On Wednesday, the Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs (KASAP) presented Representative Rebecca Raymer (District 15) with its Champion for Justice Award in a public ceremony held at Med Center Health Western Kentucky Heart & Lung.

Raymer was given this award for sponsoring two critical pieces of legislation aimed at strengthening Kentucky’s response to sexual violence in emergency settings. Raymer sponsored House Bill 219 which requires mandatory training for emergency department staff on sexual assault response protocols, developed in collaboration with the state’s Sexual Assault Response Team Advisory Committee. She also sponsored HSC 20, which directs the Legislative Research Commission to study geographic gaps in access to Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs) and barriers to forensic exams in emergency departments. 

Med Center Health Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, Melissa Gilpin, spoke at the event and many other staff members of Med Center Health were in attendance. Thank you to everyone who made this event possible.