[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 64 (Wednesday, May 11, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H3166]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT IN THE U.S. MILITARY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Speier) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak again about rape and 
sexual assault in the military. But first I want to recognize the role 
our military played in bringing Osama bin Laden to justice. Taking down 
the world's most notorious man, someone responsible for the deaths of 
thousands of innocent Americans, is a tremendous accomplishment. Our 
Nation is so proud of the service of our members of the military.
  The news about killing Osama bin Laden is another reminder that 
military service is one of our Nation's highest callings. This is 
precisely why we cannot, as a country, allow a few bad actors to 
besmirch the honor of the Armed Forces. And we certainly cannot condone 
a system that is designed to protect the perpetrators and punish the 
survivors.
  Just as the military sought justice for the victims of September 11, 
we must continue to seek justice for those who have served their 
country, only to be raped or sexually assaulted by one of their own.
  As a reminder, the numbers are staggering. The Department of Defense 
has said that over 19,000 members of the military were raped or 
sexually assaulted in 2010. Those are the Department of Defense 
numbers. And only 13 percent of them actually report the assaults.
  I made a pledge to share the victims' stories every week until 
Congress and this administration does something more than offer lip 
service. I recently set up an email account so survivors could share 
their stories with me. The address is StopMilitaryRape@mail
.house.gov.
  Today I want to share one of those emails. A servicewoman wrote:
  I endured over a year of harassment while stationed at Point Loma, 
California. My class leader was a fleet returnee that referred to women 
by a number of derogatory names. He and two other men in the class 
would grope women. They would then publicly grope each other to prove 
that they were equal opportunity harassers.
  The class leader also would accuse women of being ``on the rag,'' or 
he would ask us if our vagina hurt. What would happen if one of your 
colleagues asked you if your vagina hurt? And yet this is largely 
permitted in uniform. It is permitted with a culture of fear that would 
rival the prison experience or the tyranny of gang infested 
neighborhoods.
  I reported the behavior and the class leader was relieved of his 
duties. He was already on a suspended bust for sexual harassment that 
he committed while on recruiting duty in his hometown. I then was 
ostracized for reporting bad behavior. This class leader told all the 
male students at this training center to make sure that whoever went to 
sea with me should make me pay.
  Another petty officer deployed on a mission a month ahead of me. He 
told the ship that I was a feminist and a lesbian that got someone that 
was on a suspended bust into more trouble.
  While stationed aboard that ship, I was groped and harassed by my 
work center supervisor. When we went to sea, he would send everyone 
back to their barracks by saying that he and I would finish cleaning 
up. Then he would rape me.
  The ship sailed for the Caribbean. We sailed through hurricanes and 
tropical storms off the coast of Florida. I was put on consecutive 
watches with this guy and he raped me most of the time we were on watch 
together. I did get some reprieve because in high seas he would get 
seasick. Once he got sick all over me while he was raping me.

                              {time}  1030

  I tried to report this rape and harassment to my chain of command. My 
senior chief took me out to the fan tail of the ship and told me that 
the chain of command knew that I was a feminist and a Democrat; and, if 
I said anything more about this, I would just be proving that I wanted 
to get the rapist in trouble.
  I attempted suicide, but backed out at the last minute. It still 
makes no sense.
  Well, it doesn't make sense. I have received countless emails like 
this and will continue to share them in the weeks ahead. Again, I 
invite survivors to tell their stories by writing to 
StopMilitaryR[email protected].
  During a time of such tremendous pride for our military, we should 
commit ourselves to removing the stain of rape and sexual assault from 
this great institution once and for all.

                          ____________________