Walsh Continues Fight to Eliminate Sexual Assault in the Military

Press Release

Senator John Walsh is keeping up his fight against military sexual assault and today secured an important provision in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Despite recent efforts to prevent sexual assault in the military, there is no structure currently in place to make sure that the reforms are working -- an error that Walsh's provision seeks to correct.

"The women and men who enlist to defend our country should be safe from assault and we must provide the tools to stop these incidents," said Walsh, the only Iraq War combat veteran serving in the U.S. Senate. "It is essential that we continue to improve prevention and accountability efforts, but that we also make surewe know exactly what reforms are working and where there is still work to be done."

Walsh's language in the NDAA directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to provide Congress with a comprehensive report of sexual assault prevention efforts currently being implemented by each of the Armed Services. It will also require an analysis to determine which policies are successful, which policies have been unsuccessful, and to recommend new prevention efforts.

Walsh's provision can be found on page 115 of the Senate Report of the National Defense Authorization Act. The language is taken from a stand-alone bill Walsh introduced earlier this year, the Military Sexual Assault Accountability Act. Walsh also supported efforts from Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Claire McCaskill to increase prosecution of military sexual assaults.

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