[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 27 (Friday, February 18, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H1202]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PROTECT SERVICEMEMBERS FROM SEXUAL ASSAULT
(Mr. POE of Texas asked and was given permission to address the House
for 1 minute.)
Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, last year the military received over
3,000 reports of sexual assault involving other members in the service.
This week, 17 veterans are saying that the military ignored their cases
of sexual assault while they were on active duty. These accusations
have occurred in all branches of the military.
The most recent complaint came from a woman who says she was drugged
and gang raped by two fellow members of the Navy. This ended her
career. Another rape victim reported the crime to the Marines, and she
was ordered not to tell anyone, and to respect the alleged rapist, who
was of a higher rank.
The perpetrators of rape in the military must be held accountable for
their misdeeds, and victims should be respected and validated by the
military. The United States has the world's finest military personnel,
and we must support all of them, including victims of crime.
And that's just the way it is.
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