Sexual Assault Within Our Military Must be Addressed

Floor Speech

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, sexual assault and misconduct within our military ranks occur far too often, and threaten the safety of both men and women serving in our Armed Forces. Our brave military personnel go well beyond the call of duty risking their lives to protect American families and the freedoms we hold dear. It is our obligation to crack down on these heinous crimes by strengthening the military justice system so that we can better protect those who protect us.

I am very grateful that last week Members from both sides of the aisle joined together in a bipartisan fashion to address this problem by passing the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014. Sexual Assault Prevention Caucus leaders Mike Turner and Niki Tsongas, with House Armed Services Committee Chairman Buck McKeon, worked together to make a difference.

Thankfully, we were successful in including 20 additional provisions that will address prevention, investigation, prosecution, and punishment of the crime of sexual assault.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th in the global war on terrorism.

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