[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 79 (Monday, May 8, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E615]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





      RAISING AWARENESS OF MARINES UNITED OFFENSIVE FACEBOOK PAGE

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                               speech of

                           HON. JACKIE SPEIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 2, 2017

  Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, first and foremost, I want to thank my 
colleagues, Rep. Lois Frankel, Rep. Brenda Lawrence, Rep. Barbara Lee, 
Rep. Ann Kuster, Rep. Norma Torres, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, Rep. Don 
Bacon, and Rep. Martha McSally, who spoke out during the May 2nd 
Special Order Hour on nonconsensual pornography in the military. It is 
critical that we continue to raise awareness about this topic and I am 
grateful to see Members from both parties coming together to fight this 
predatory and humiliating practice taking place in our military. I 
would also like to specifically thank Reps. Frankel and Lawrence for 
hosting the Special Order Hour on behalf of the Democratic Women's 
Working Group.
  I am deeply passionate about stopping nonconsensual pornography in 
the armed services, and was disappointed to miss the Special Order 
Hour. I had an unavoidable conflict, since at the same time I was 
serving as the Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee 
Military Personnel Hearing on the Annual Report on Sexual Harassment 
and Violence at the Military Service Academies. During the hearing, I 
listened to brave testimony from military survivors of sexual assault 
and harassment who also suffered retaliation after they came forward. 
All members of the military deserve protection from sexual violence on 
the internet, in the academies, and every place else.
  Marines United, and other incidents of nonconsensual pornography in 
the military, are examples of degrading behaviors that destroy careers 
and lives.
  When these horrific incidents occur, it is not about sex or social 
media policy; it is evidence of a culture of rot that is allowed to 
spread by military leadership.
  I am concerned that NCIS and military leadership is not taking this 
seriously--my staff found scores of nonconsensual pornography images on 
Tumblr in under 5 minutes with the search term ``Tumblr Army naked.'' 
These attacks go well beyond just the posting of the pictures. They are 
widespread and involve every branch of the military and all levels of 
command, as shown by the charge against Master Sgt. Theophilus Thomas.
  Why is it that other crimes are punished with a zero tolerance policy 
and the individual is removed from service, while stalking, harassment, 
and the destruction of your colleague's career fails to warrant the 
same punishment from the military? These crimes pose a serious threat 
to troop readiness and morale and must be treated as such.
  I am proud to be a co-lead with Congresswoman McSally on the PRIVATE 
Act, which would make posting consensually taken, but nonconsensually 
distributed intimate photos illegal under the UCMJ. I hope my 
colleagues on both sides of the aisle will join together and support 
the PRIVATE Act and the brave men and women who put their lives on the 
line in service to our country.

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