In Support of Motion to Instruct Conferees on H.R. 1540, National Defense Authorization Act

Floor Speech

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of the Motion to Instruct Conferees, which instructs House conferees to insist on the inclusion of certain amendments intended to improved the sexual assault prevention and response in the Armed Services that were contained in the version of National Defense Authorization Act passed by the House on May 26, 2011.

While 1 in 6 women in the United States will experience some type of sexual assault in her lifetime, as many as 1 in 3 veteran women report that they have experienced some form of Military Sexual Trauma during their service. Due to shame, guilt or fear of not being believed, countless victims do not report their assault and it has been reported that as few as 13 percent of these sexual assaults are reported to the proper authorities.

Mr. Speaker, not only do cases of sexual assault largely go unreported, but response protocols necessary to protect victims of assault need to be improved.
In addition, more must be done to protect these victims after they report their abuse. Victims of sexual assault face a lack of confidentiality, protection, support, and access to legal counsel once an incident is reported.

Currently, victims of rape or sexual assault do not have the right to a unit or duty location transfer following an assault. The result is that victims of these unspeakable crimes often have to continue serving alongside their assailant. As of this date, the Department of Defense has not yet adopted policies that will enable sexual assault victims to escape constant contact with their attackers.
Mr. Speaker, this is a huge problem. Something must be done.

Fortunately, the problem of rape and sexual assault in the military has been addressed by provisions in both the House- and Senate-passed versions of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2012 (NDAA). In both the House and Senate versions, the NDAA makes improvements in the military's response to sexual assault and to provide greater protections for our service men and women in the armed forces. Our hope is to ensure zero tolerance for sexual assault in the military.

However, the House and Senate versions of this act differ significantly. The House version of the NDAA has stronger provisions regarding sexual assault in the military by strengthening legal protections for the victims, providing support and guidance to victims, and by strengthening the systems in place to prevent future assaults. That is why the Motion to Instruct directs House conferees to insist on the inclusion of these provisions in the compromise legislation negotiated in the Conference.

Among the House-passed improvements are provisions:
ensuring that sexual assault victims be afforded legal counsel if desired;
protecting the confidentiality and victim advocates;
requiring that commanders transfer duty stations; and
requiring adequate training and education programs to prevent sexual assault.
Mr. Speaker, we have a duty to protect our men and women in the military, who put their lives on the line for our country. We have a duty to make our armed forces safe for all men and women who wish to serve. It is dangerous enough risking one's safety in defense of our country on foreign shores. It is simply intolerable for American servicewomen and men to have to assume the risk of sexual assault from their comrades.

The provisions in the version of H.R. 1540 passed by the House reflects a zero tolerance policy when it comes to the sexual assault of members of the Armed Forces by members of the Armed Forces. That is why I strongly support this Motion to Instruct Conferees on H.R. 1540. I urge all of my colleagues to do likewise.

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