[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 5869]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT IN THE MILITARY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Speier) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, once again, to highlight the 
epidemic of rape and sexual assault in the military.
  As I said last week, the Department of Defense, by its own 
calculations, estimates that over 19,000 servicemembers, mostly women 
but some men, are raped or sexually assaulted every single year; and, 
furthermore, only 13 percent report these rapes or sexual assaults. Why 
is that? Because the system of justice designed to adjudicate cases of 
rape in the military is in complete shambles. Victims are blamed. 
Assailants are promoted. Unit commanders, whose promotions are 
dependent on the conduct and performance of the soldiers they 
supervise, have an incentive to see that allegations are few and 
convictions are fewer.
  Meanwhile, what are we doing here in Congress? Over the last 16 
years, there have been reports and there have been hearings, 18 of 
them, and we make lots of noise; but then nothing is done about it. As 
a result of this code of silence, the overwhelming majority of cases 
get swept under the proverbial rug.
  Last week I told the story of Technical Sergeant Mary Gallagher. The 
feedback I've gotten is considerable. A woman named Katie wrote on my 
Facebook page: ``I am one of those victim soldiers. Jackie, thank you 
for fighting for a basic right. I have no idea why this is still not 
being handled properly. I dream that soon women and men will be able to 
serve our country without the threat of rape that will go unpunished.''
  But stopping military rape should be more than just a dream; it must 
be a reality. We owe our servicemembers the same protection that they 
provide to all Americans.
  Today I want to share the story of Seaman Panayiota Bertzikis. Seaman 
Bertzikis served in the Coast Guard from November 2005 to May of 2007. 
Her allegation is as follows:
  On May 30, 2006, Seaman Bertzikis was raped by a shipmate when she 
stationed in Burlington, Vermont. During a hike, her rapist threw her 
onto the ground, punched her in the face, and raped her.
  She reported the rape to command, who told her to cease speaking 
about it or she would be charged with the military equivalent of 
slander. She later obtained photographs and admissions made by her 
rapist through the Freedom of Information Act, but command failed to 
bring him to justice in any way. Instead, they forced Seaman Bertzikis 
to live on the same floor with her rapist, where he would remain a 
constant threat. Command also told the seaman to work with her rapist 
and use the time together to ``work out their differences.''
  Command was well aware, but did not stop, further assaults and 
harassment of Seaman Bertzikis. Instead, she was transferred to Boston 
where Coast Guard personnel called her a ``liar'' and a ``whore.''
  When she was on base performing her duties, a group of Coast Guard 
personnel cornered Seaman Bertzikis and tried to rip off her uniform. 
They called her a ``crazy lying whore'' and said she would ``pay for 
snitching'' on their friend. They threatened to rape her again.
  When she reported this harassment, the Coast Guard's ``victim 
advocate'' told her not to pursue disciplinary action because she would 
be seen as ``difficult.'' In addition, her appointed attorney said if 
her rapist did not have a history of sexual assault, ``why would he 
assault anyone now?'' Seaman Bertzikis was denied rank because of the 
pending investigation, despite the fact that she had met all the 
necessary requirements.
  She described her horrific ordeal this way: ``If I told them that my 
house was broken into, not one person would question me, blame me, or 
say that I was lying. But when I say that my body was broken into, 
people automatically feel that they have the right to judge me, to 
doubt me, and to blame me.''
  What a profound statement by Seaman Bertzikis. She has now started 
the Military Rape Crisis Center to help her fellow colleagues and 
victims. Turning pain into purpose, she is truly an American shero.
  Seaman Bertzikis's story shows the urgent need to protect 
servicemembers from abuse.

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