[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 102 (Wednesday, July 17, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H4533]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        MILITARY SEXUAL ASSAULT

  (Ms. GABBARD asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, yesterday in the Senate, we heard some 
great news. Senators Rand Paul and Ted Cruz joined Senator Kirsten 
Gillibrand and many others in support of the Military Justice 
Improvement Act.
  This is a group of courageous leaders, bipartisan, taking serious 
action to stop the epidemic of violent sexual assaults amongst our men 
and women who courageously serve in our military.
  Recently, the Defense Department reported that 26,000 sexual assaults 
had occurred in 2012 alone. Contrary to popular belief, this is not 
just an issue affecting female servicemembers. Over 53 percent of these 
assaults, over half of the 26,000, had been male victims. 
Unfortunately, 87 percent of these assaults went unreported.
  This is a matter of basic fairness, transparency, and justice. 
Placing the decision to bring charges against these perpetrators of 
serious violent crimes into the hands of experienced professional 
military investigators and prosecutors outside of the chain of command 
will not erode a commander's ability to lead his or her troops.
  We must change the status quo. These crimes have been ignored for far 
too long.

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