Senator Gillibrand's Proposal Would Help Expose and Curb Sexual Assault and Harrassment

Press Release

Following a recent survey revealing a staggering number of sexual assault and harassment incidents at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) campus and at sea, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced a new plan to combat sexual violence and change the climate at the USMMA. According to the USMMA's most recent survey of midshipmen on sexual harassment and sexual assault, in the 2014-2015 academic year, 63 percent of women and 11 percent of men said they had been sexually harassed, and 17 percent of women said they had been sexually assaulted, yet only one case was reported to Academy officials during the 2014-2015 academic year. According to the same survey, 78 percent of the female midshipmen who were sexually assaulted but did not report it to the Academy said that they did not feel comfortable making a report, and an overwhelming majority, 69 percent, thought they would be blamed for the assault.

Senator Gillibrand's proposed reforms would provide midshipmen with more resources and support to report these crimes and would give USMMA staff more training to respond to and prevent sexual assault on campus and during the midshipmen's year at sea. The bill would also help ensure that the commercial vessels hosting USMMA midshipmen provide a safe environment. Senator Gillibrand's proposal would empower the Department of Transportation Inspector General by providing the training necessary to properly investigate reports of sexual assault. Senator Gillibrand announced today that she plans to introduce the proposal as legislation in the U.S. Senate.

"The price of an education and job training at sea cannot be sexual assault and harassment," said U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. "The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy is the premier school for midshipmen to start careers supporting the military and on commercial carriers at sea -- to become the best mariners in the world -- so to have more than six out of ten female midshipmen and more than one out of ten male midshipmen say they were sexually harassed in a year is completely unacceptable. To have 17 percent of female midshipmen being sexually assaulted is outrageous. This scourge of sexual violence and harassment demands immediate action. Working with midshipmen, school officials, and sexual assault prevention experts, I've put together a plan that I will introduce as legislation in the Senate to help end this crisis at the academy and protect our midshipmen on campus and at sea."

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