Mazie Hirono

Unless and until we professionalize the military justice system, and afford servicemembers at least the same access to legal redress that civilian victims have, including critical access to civil suits, we will not change this culture.

In a culture that is so deeply rooted in sexist traditions, in which sexual assault of men occurs even more often than sexual assault of women...

We need to think well outside the box to find transformative solutions.

In the age of Steubenville, it is also not safe to be a woman at the Service Academies.

The majority of these are bipartisan and bicameral, which speaks to the collective approach required to see real change happen.

We know that the military justice system has not worked effectively for you.

I have submitted several Senate bills in my testimony.

So these surveys are institutionalized in the Army. What about the other Services?

If the report goes to someone who then reports to the chain of command, the chain of command must now consider it an unrestricted report.

I would suggest, and following up on some of my other colleagues' line of questioning, that I would like to know who does the survey?

I would really like to hear from you as to when you intend to or if you intend to talk with our allies as to what their experience is in moving in the direction that some of these bills move in.

I would very much appreciate a response from all of our Services as to when they intend to talk with our allies, if they intend to, and with specifically regarding the removal of the chain of command on some of these decisions.

I think it allows our priorities to be where they ought to be in terms of enforcement.

I think there are probably some ways that we can allow for these kinds of family members to come in

I would like to continue to work with the Members of the Committee and with all of you to seek improvements on the family provisions.

I am concerned that this bill will no longer provide a meaningful opportunity for U.S. citizens to petition for their siblings.

I believe that the new merit-based visa system will exclude many immigrant family members from reuniting with their U.S. citizen siblings.

I plan to work with the chairman and others on this committee to get congressional consent for these amendments.

I think that is really important, and I commend you for the steps you are taking to recognize that this is a different population of veterans than perhaps.

Is it your intention and goal that 100 percent of VA facilities will have these kinds of comprehensive care for our women veterans?

Yes, we do. Under the direction of Dr. Patricia Hayes, who runs our women's program, we have an extensive outreach program.

Thank you very much, Senator Lee. This discussion is interesting for me, too, because I fully expect both of you to do a great job should you be confirmed.

We need to continue to work to confirm judges so that our judiciary is able to resolve cases in an expeditious manner.

I think it is now settled law that I would apply, were I lucky enough to be confirmed, that the Authorization for Use of Military Force does encompass detention.

I think the Supreme Court answered that in the affirmative in the Hamdi decision.