OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Providing for Consideration of H.R. 1960, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014; and Providing for Consideration of H.R. 1256, SWAP Jurisdiction Certainty Act

Floor Speech

Date: June 12, 2013
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Women Military Personnel Criminal Justice

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Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, military cohesion is eroding and trust is disintegrating throughout the ranks as sexual assault infests the services. An Air Force officer charged with sexual assault prevention efforts here in Washington was arrested for sexual battery last month.

West Point and the Naval Academy have made recent headlines about assaults involving athletes. Alarmingly, the military academies reported 80 cases of sexual assault last year, a 23 percent increase; and too many cases go unreported.

We trust the service academies to mold our sons and daughters for service to our country. Cadets and midshipmen are of an impressionable and often vulnerable age, requiring stronger protections against sexual assault and better support for victims.

The culture that is propelling this epidemic must change. I urge support for the sexual assault provisions in the NDAA.

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