Inspector General Investigation of Allegations of Retaliatory Personnel Actions Taken in Response to Making Protected Communications Regarding Sexual Assault

Floor Speech

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Mrs. WALORSKI. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Sexual assault in the military is maiming our troops. These aren't my words. They are the words of General Raymond Odierno, the Chief of Staff of the Army. He likened military sexual assault to other serious threats that our troops face downrange.

The threat of sexual assault in the military is real. The wounds it inflicts on our servicemembers are also just as real.

I introduced H.R. 1864 with my colleague and tireless advocate Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez. The bill on the floor today is the product of a lot of time and hard work.

I remember sitting in the House Armed Services Committee hearing and becoming shocked as I learned firsthand about the widespread abuse at Lackland Air Force base. I remember thinking that our brave servicemembers deserve so much better and that those in charge deserve to be held accountable. After that hearing, I went to work.

The bill we are debating today is a true bipartisan and bicameral reform that gets to the heart of this issue. It does so by addressing the challenges of sexual assault underreporting that has become too common in the military. The Pentagon estimates that there were approximately 26,000 victims of sexual assault last year. However, only roughly 3,600 victims actually filed reports.

Many individuals don't come forward because they don't have confidence in the military justice system. Others don't come forward because they fear reprisal or they believe reporting another servicemember will negatively impact their own career. This lack of reporting, for whatever reason, demonstrates that we have a real problem.

Before we can truly understand the scope of sexual assault in the military and how to best confront it, we have to find a way to encourage more victims to come forward. We have to find a way to empower the victims and restore their faith in the military justice system. That's what this bill does.

H.R. 1864 strengthens existing military whistleblower protections and seeks to remove many of the fears and stigmas that deter reporting. The bill requires an inspector general investigation into suspected retaliation in response to allegations of sexual assault. This bill also seeks to help create an environment in the military where victims feel safe to come out of the darkness and to report these crimes of sexual violence.

It is reported that 62 percent of the servicemembers who experienced unwanted sexual contact felt as if they were being retaliated against in one form or another. This is completely unacceptable. Troops who have sacrificed so much for the cause of liberty should not be subject to reprisal after having just been subject to the emotional and physical pain of a sexual crime.

H.R. 1864 is good policy, and the urgency of this issue demands that this Congress act today. Let's be a voice for the countless victims who have already come forward and for the countless more who are still unknown. Let's send a clear and resounding message to the Department of Defense and to those preying on our troops, which is that this type of behavior will no longer be tolerated.

I ask my colleagues to do the right thing and join me in supporting this much-needed measure.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mrs. WALORSKI. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

In closing, I would like to say that H.R. 1864 is a long overdue solution. It's the place to start, a foundation on which to build.

I'm grateful to my colleague, Loretta Sanchez, for partnering with me, for her multiyear commitment to this issue. We worked closely with the HASC staff and the Department of Defense to craft this legislation. The bill was included along with many other good provisions addressing military sexual assault in the House-passed NDAA a few weeks ago. With over 110 bipartisan cosponsors, the House has shown that it can come together on serious issues and get things done.

Senator Klobuchar has also introduced companion legislation in the Senate. Too many victims have already suffered. These assaults are happening every day. There's no reason to wait even longer for the NDAA to become law when we have a solution today.

Congress must act with a sense of urgency to approve thoughtful reforms combating sexual assault in the military. I'm hopeful that this measure passes, the Senate quickly takes it up, and we can send it to the President for his signature. I'm asking my colleagues to act today and pass this bill.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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