Unanimous Consent Request--S. 1520

Floor Speech

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Mr. REED. Mr. President, I object to the Senator's request for the reasons that I have previously stated. As the Senator from New York acknowledged, on July 2, President Biden announced that he ``strongly supports'' the recommendations put forth by Secretary Austin based on the work of the Independent Review Commission that would reform how the military prosecutes sexual assault-related crimes. Subsequent to the President's statement, the administration forwarded to the committee their legislative proposals to implement this reform.

I support and commend the President, the Secretary, and the IRC leadership and staff for their work, and I look forward to working with them and the administration and my colleagues, particularly my colleagues on the Armed Services Committee, to enact this historic and momentous change to the Department of Defense.

Sexual assault is an unconscionable crime and a pervasive problem in the military and in American society. While the military has taken steps to try to stop sexual assault in the ranks, it simply hasn't been enough. I strongly agree with the President's statement that ``sexual assault in the military is doubly damaging because it also shreds the unity and cohesion that is essential for the functioning of the U.S. military and to our national defense.''

While this change will be important, enhancing prevention, education, and command climate and culture will also be vital. If this reform to the UCMJ is the only thing we do, then I think that it will not be successful on its own. We need to prevent these crimes, not simply prosecute them.

I understand that my colleague from New York, Senator Gillibrand, disagrees with the proposed scope of this reform. Nevertheless, I want to acknowledge her leadership on this issue. She has fought for 8 years for this reform, and that day, with respect to sexual assault, is coming. Indeed, just as a footnote, the legislation that is being advanced would include every crime incident to a sexual assault, so that if a victim is subject not just simply to sexual assault but to other crimes in that incident, all those crimes are to be tried together. So the need to import crimes like murder and arson and other nonsexual related crimes is, in my view, not going to accomplish the goals that I think this Senate has been focused on, particularly over the last 6 months or so.

I intend to include the administration's proposals in next week's markup at the annual Defense bill, subject to amendment. I think that is important to know--subject to amendment, that the UC as proposed would not allow amendments. It would not allow colleagues on the floor to come up and say: I have a better idea. We will do that in the committee, as we have always done it in the committee or at least tried to do it in the committee.

I look forward to working with Senator Gillibrand and my other colleagues in the committee as we consider, debate, and vote on this and other proposals, but I still must reiterate my objection to the unanimous consent request.

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