Jackie Speier: “This is really astonishing to me, as if servicemembers who are female, who are in States in which they do not have these…”

“This is really astonishing to me, as if servicemembers who are female, who are in States in which they do not have these benefits, should somehow be second-class citizens, I don't get. We have a Parliamentarian who determines whether or not an amendment is germane to the NDAA. That has already taken place. So having this debate is irrelevant, because we have already established that it is germane. I don't know about you, but I am not just legislating for the people of California. I am legislating for the entire country. That is my job. If there is a sexual assault victim in a State where they don't have the resources to somehow provide the Survivors' Bill of Rights, we have already done this on a Federal level and we offer some incentive so they do it, I don't see how this is any different than the other programs we have that we continue to fund for local jurisdictions all across this country, whether it is the COPS program or anything else. So I am flummoxed by this debate on the other side. It is not a laughing matter. It is very serious. I think sexual assault victims across this country would like to know that they have the same rights in States as those who are victims of Federal crimes when it comes to being able to access a rape kit, have it paid for, and being told what the results are. It is common sense. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.”