[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 124 (Wednesday, September 17, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H7486]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE MILITARY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Maryland [Mrs. Morella] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my Women's Caucus 
colleagues for calling this afternoon's series of special orders 
dealing with sexual harassment and discrimination in the U.S. Armed 
Forces.
  The seriousness of this problem first came to light with reports of 
sexual harassment and violence at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in my own 
State of Maryland. Not only were these reports confirmed, but, 
regrettably, further investigation has revealed that they were only the 
tip of the iceberg.
  In contrast to prior such scandals within the military, the Army, and 
Secretary Togo West, deserve credit for their quick and serious 
response to these reports. The Army's Senior Review Panel on Sexual 
Harassment and the Inspector General's Special Inspection of Initial 
Entry Training concluded that sexual harassment is widespread, 
``crossing gender, rank, and racial lines,'' and that job 
discrimination is even more pervasive. Additionally, they found that 
``respect as an Army core value is not well institutionalized in the 
[initial Entry Training] process.''
  Clearly, when 47 percent of military women experience unwanted sexual 
attention, when 15 percent experience sexual coercion, when 7 percent 
are victims of sexual assault, and the victims are not only afraid to 
report acts of misconduct against them, but also feel that their 
charges will go unheeded, the unit cohesion and personal respect 
necessary for peak military performance, and the defense of the Nation, 
are jeopardized.
  As these two reports also make clear, these issues are complex, and 
cannot be resolved overnight. Nonetheless, we do expect the Army to 
undertake every possible effort to remedy these problems as quickly as 
possible, and to work to maintain a high standard of personal conduct 
for all of its soldiers and officers.
  Mr. Speaker, I again want to thank my Caucus colleagues for calling 
this special order, and I also want to thank Congresswomen Fowler and 
harman, our Caucus members serving on the National Security Committee, 
for the work which they have done on this issue. I look forward to 
continuing to work with them, as well as the Chairman of the Military 
Personnel Subcommittee, Mr. Buyer, on gender issues in the military. I 
look forward to the hearings which the subcommittee will hold on this 
issue in October, to learn more specifically what actions the Army will 
take to correct its personnel problems, and what we in Congress can do 
to assist in their implementation.

                          ____________________