Annual defense Bill Includes Tsongas Bill to Support Military Sexual Assault Survivors

Press Release

Legislation co-authored by Congresswoman Niki Tsongas (D-MA) and Congressman Mike Turner (R-OH) to combat military sexual assault has been included in the FY 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the annual bill that sets funding and policy for the Department of Defense.

Tsongas and Turner co-authored the Support Uniformed Patriots; Prevent Offenses and Restore Trust Act (SUPPORT Act), which will take critical steps to prevent retaliation, better examine and address instances of male sexual assault, improve support for victims, and more. The entire SUPPORT Act was included in the overall NDAA. Further details can be found below.

The NDAA was approved by the House Armed Services Committee early this morning. The NDAA is expected to be considered by the full House of Representatives in the coming weeks.

"This year's NDAA supports survivors of military sexual assault, works to prevent assaults, encourage reporting, provide quality services, and reform the military justice system that too often fails survivors of these crimes.Congressman Turner and I have long shared a commitment to examining and enacting the changes needed to bring effective resources and protections to survivors and our work this year continues to build on this effort," said Congresswoman Tsongas. "The provisions in the NDAA force DOD to confront uncomfortable issues head-on, like retaliation and the stigma surrounding male victimization, which erode confidence in the system and discourage women and men from reporting. The bill also extends critical services to civilian DOD employees and needed training to ROTC commanders, making sure the military community is playing by the same rules across the board. That status quo is simply unacceptable and the SUPPORT Act takes important steps towards change."

The SUPPORT Act, which was introduced last week, was backed by the Service Women's Action Network (SWAN).

"SWAN is proud to stand behind the SUPPORT Act, which will provide the much needed regulations to ensure proper training, reduce retaliation, enhance and improve access to special victims counsel, and deliver guidance on implementing changes to the UCMJ," said Erica Hunt, Interim Executive Director for SWAN. "Sexual violence threatens the strength, readiness and morale of the U.S. military, undermining U.S. national security, and this measure is instrumental to gaining better victims' protections, professionalized and impartial prosecution of crimes, and increasing individual and institutional accountability to everyone who serves."

Tsongas and Turner are co-chairs of the Military Sexual Assault Prevention Caucus and co-authors of several of the most significant legislation signed into law in recent years to combat military sexual assault.

The SUPPORT Act (included in the FY16 NDAA):

Requires sexual assault prevention and response training for all Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) personnel

Requires the DOD to create a comprehensive strategy to prevent retaliation and protect those who experience it, as well as improved training for commanders

Provides a way for DOD's civilian employees to gain access to the successful Special Victims Counsel program

Enhances Special Victims Counsel (SVC) Program, ensuring advocates receive systematic training and an evaluation process is put in place

Requires the DOD to better train and educate servicemembers about the sexual assault of men; provide the medical and mental health needs specific to male survivors; and develop Department-wide metrics in order to better understand the issue and address it.

Prevents a sexual assault survivor's mental health records from being released without an order from a military judge

Requires the Department of Defense to implement changes to the military justice system in a way to ensure fair and equal treatment across the services

Source