On the recordMay 5, 2010
I am deeply troubled by the increasing number of sexual assaults in the U.S. military. Not only is sexual assault a crime that is incompatible with military service, but it also undermines core values, degrades military readiness, subverts good will and forever changes the lives of victims and their families. We know from the Defense Department's 2009 Report on Sexual Assault in the Military that the number of reported sexual assaults in the military increased substantially last year--a trend that has continued for the last couple of years. Unfortunately, according to the Pentagon, we also know that while improvements have been made, the number of sexual assaults in the military actually reported is far below the estimated number of assaults that have actually occurred in the military. It is estimated that only 10 to 20 percent of sexual assaults in the military are actually reported. Obviously, more needs to be done. That is why I have introduced the Defense, Sexual Trauma Response and Good Governance, STRONG Act of 2010.
