[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 77 (Wednesday, May 21, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H4692]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                JUSTICE FOR OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM

  (Ms. GABBARD asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I stand here disappointed and heartbroken 
today as an American and as a soldier because Congress has missed an 
opportunity to stand up and fight for our troops, especially those who 
have been victims and survivors of violent sexual crimes that have 
occurred within our ranks.
  These are the less than 1 percent of people in our country who have 
voluntarily put their lives on the line for us, yet what are we doing 
for them? It is our responsibility to hear the voices coming from 
within the ranks of our uniformed services and to let them know that we 
have their back.
  The House this week had a chance to finally take action on a 
bipartisan effort to remove the chain of command from the 
decisionmaking process to prosecute a violent sexual crime that occurs 
within our ranks, but this legislation was blocked from even getting an 
up-or-down vote on the House floor.
  This fight for justice is far from over because we will keep pushing 
for meaningful change that best serves our men and women in uniform, 
ensuring them justice and honoring their selfless service to our 
country.

                          ____________________