Issue Position: The Bipartisan Karen Tufts Military SAVE Act

Issue Position

As a husband, father, uncle, and brother, stopping sexual violence is of utmost importance to me.

Last year the crisis of sexual assault in the military was brought to my attention in a much more personal and meaningful way when a constituent survivor came to my office to tell me her story. What this constituent, a veteran of our armed services, shared with me was not just that she had been a victim of unwanted sexual conduct during her active duty service in the 1990's, but also that she had struggled in the years since leaving the military unable to access the services that she need to treat and overcome the trauma she had suffered.

Specifically, she noted the healthcare services provided by the Veterans Administrations did not always match her specific post-military sexual trauma (MST) needs. As I reflect back on our conversation that day in my office, I am struck by the fact that here is a woman who was not only courageous and patriotic in serving her country in uniform, but was courageous and patriotic for having the ability to come forward to share her experience so other veterans suffering in similar circumstance might be better access to MST related and disability benefits that they so justly deserve.

Unfortunately, these constituents and their concerns are far from uncommon. According to the Pentagon, an unprecedented 26,000 military personnel were sexually assaulted in 2012. While there is clearly much to be done to address the prevention of these assaults, there is an immediate need to change the system so we can help military sexual trauma (MST) survivors who are trying to get the care they need.

Currently, survivors of MST are only able to receive treatment outside the Veterans Administration (VA) health system if a Department of Defense or VA employee believes the victim cannot be treated within the system or if the victim lives too far away from a VA facility. While I applaud the DOD's and VA's work, I believe there is more we can do to help the victims of MST, especially while the Department of Veterans Affairs is working to meet the growing demands of a new generation combat veterans coming home.

This is why I authored and introduced H.R. 3775, the Karen Tufts Military Sexual Assault Victims Empowerment Act, also known as the Karen Tufts Military SAVE Act, which would empower survivors of military sexual trauma to select their own care providers and provide the support these brave service members have earned.

As the title of the bill suggests the intent of this legislation is to put MST survivors in control of their own healthcare. MST survivors have unique needs and it is important that they feel comfortable sharing this emotionally painful and very personal life-changing experience with professionals who have training and expertise to properly handle these complex cases.

At the end of the day, these survivors fought and sacrificed for their country and we must honor the commitment that this country has made to them. I am honored to stand with survivors and their families and look forward to working with my cosponsors and colleagues on the House Military Sexual Assault Prevention Caucus to continue advancing this legislation so we can give these heroes the best healthcare they need, the best healthcare they deserve, and the best healthcare that they have earned.

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