Political Quotes

“I yield myself 6 of my 10 minutes. One of the issues we address in this bill is the problem of sexual assault in the military. Too many of the men and women who volunteer for our military to serve and protect us are victims of sexual assault and other misconduct. That is deeply offensive to our conscience and a stain on an honorable institution. The bill that was reported by the committee includes groundbreaking new measures to reduce sexual assault and misconduct. On a bipartisan basis, members debated and approved more than two dozen measures related to preventing sexual assault and to delivering justice for the victims of these crimes. The bill that we approved, and which is now before us, would provide sexual assault victims a counsel, a lawyer, who works not for commanders, prosecutors, defense attorneys or a court but for the victim. It includes strong new protections for victims that are designed to combat the No. 1 problem we have in preventing assaults and dealing with perpetrators: the fact that many assaults remain unreported to authorities. Of great importance, the committee-reported bill for the first time makes it a crime under the Uniform Code of Military Justice to retaliate against a servicemember who reports a sexual assault. It also requires that the Department of Defense inspector general review and investigate any allegation of retaliation against those who make communications regarding sexual assault or sexual misconduct.…”