On the recordMay 14, 2013
I rise today to discuss the sexual assault crisis that is facing our military and the need to act immediately to address this problem. Last week, the Department of Defense released a report estimating that over 26,000 servicemembers--and this includes men and women--were sexually assaulted in 2012, and this is up from approximately 19,000 in 2010. This is astounding and totally unacceptable. Even more alarming is the fact the number of cases actually reported remains just a fraction of the total. Only 13 percent of these cases are actually reported. Let me repeat that: Only 13 percent of assaults were actually reported in 2012. As a member of the Armed Services Committee and a Senator from North Carolina, home to the third largest military population in the country, I find these statistics appalling. The brave servicemembers who put their lives on the line should not have to worry about their personal safety on bases in the United States and around the world. The men and women who are already tasked with so much, who have vowed to serve and protect our country, should feel they are afforded the same protection in return, but they are not. The stories I hear from our female servicemembers are astounding. One woman marine was raped by an acquaintance, her fellow marine, in her barracks one night. No one heard her cries for help. The next day she did report the assault to her chain of command. An investigation was launched from there.…
