[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 85 (Friday, June 14, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E865-E866]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2014

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 12, 2013

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1960) to 
     authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2014 for military 
     activities of the Department of Defense and for military 
     construction, to prescribe military personnel strengths for 
     such fiscal year, and for other purposes:

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Chair, I rise today in 
support of the men and women in uniform who have been faced

[[Page E866]]

with sexual assault while serving in the military. According to the 
Defense Department's own estimates, roughly 26,000 individuals in our 
military will be sexually assaulted each year. Worse yet, only a small 
fraction of these victims will find the courage to come forward to 
report these incidents, all of whom must then possibly face sizeable 
retaliation or anemic prosecution.
  Currently, sex-related crimes are subject to a traditional military 
chain of command, where a commander essentially has complete authority 
and control over the discovery process. This creates an opportunity for 
military commanders to protect perpetrators and even punish victims for 
speaking out.
  Today, as the House begins consideration of amendments to the 
National Defense Authorization Act, I applaud the efforts of 
Representative Jackie Speier and other House Democrats to drastically 
alter the way that military sexual assaults are addressed. 
Representative Speier's amendment, which was rejected by House 
Republicans without debate, would have given prosecutorial discretion 
to the impartial Office of the Chief Prosecutor, limiting any 
opportunities for wrongdoing during this critical phase in the judicial 
process. Until consistent and effective processes are established to 
carefully consider any wrongdoing, members of our armed forces will 
continue to struggle with the shameful reality of widespread sexual 
assault throughout the military ranks.
  Mr. Chair, mechanisms within the military structure must be 
implemented in force if we are to send the powerful message to these 
perpetrators that sexual assault will not be tolerated under any 
circumstances. We must stand behind our men and women in uniform, and 
provide them with the assurances that their voices will be heard, and 
that they will no longer have to live in fear of losing their 
livelihood in the process.

                          ____________________