[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 130 (Monday, October 11, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1922-E1923]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCTION OF ``PREVENTING SEXUAL ASSAULTS IN THE MILITARY ACT OF 
                                 2004''

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 8, 2004

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, today, I introduce legislation, the 
``Preventing Sexual Assaults in the Military Act of 2004,'' along with 
Representatives Ellen Tauscher, Diane Watson, and Ed Towns, which would 
appropriate such funds as are necessary for fiscal years 2005 through 
2007 to eliminate the backlog in processing DNA evidence, to ensure 
that testing takes place in a timely manner, to provide an adequate 
supply of forensic evidence collection kits at all domestic and 
overseas U.S. military installations, military academies, and theaters 
of operation, and to ensure that at least one military medical 
personnel member, who is trained as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner 
(SANE) or Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (SAFE), is on duty at all 
times in the health care facility at a military academy, domestic 
military base, overseas military base, and theaters of operation, 
except where a memorandum of understanding is issued between the 
military installation and a local civilian hospital.
  Rapes and sexual assaults are far too common in both civilian life 
and in the military. As the April 2004 report issued by the Pentagon

[[Page E1923]]

states, among other findings, current DoD policies and standards do not 
focus on sexual assault and ``the military services'' policies lack 
integration for effective prevention and response.''
  This legislation will help bring justice to the victims and survivors 
of sexual assault by ensuring that DNA evidence is used to identify 
perpetrators and bring them to justice. Additionally, it will provide 
servicemembers who are raped with the necessary medical care.
  As our soldiers are fighting for those who have long been denied 
basic rights, we should do everything possible to ensure that we are 
protecting their rights, too.

                          ____________________