Annie Kuster: “My amendment to the fiscal year 2019 Defense Appropriations bill will fund the first-ever study of a subject the…”

“My amendment to the fiscal year 2019 Defense Appropriations bill will fund the first-ever study of a subject the Department of Defense has identified as ``one of the most significant barriers to sexual assaults being reported.'' The amendment carries with it bipartisan support, and I would like to thank Republican Representative Mia Love and Democratic Congresswoman Jackie Speier for joining me in cosponsoring this amendment, because they recognize its importance. For far too long, servicemembers have survived sexual assaults only to suffer in silence. They have refused to bring their assailants to justice and receive medical attention not because they fear their attacker, but, rather, they fear a military policy which requires that their commanders punish them for minor violations. These transgressions are brought to light during the investigation of their assault. Consequently, many survivors decide against reporting their attacks and bringing their assailants to justice. A RAND survey of military members who survive sexual assaults but refuse to report the attacks found that 22 percent feared being punished for collateral misconduct. The list of survivors who have had their military careers ruined because they demanded justice is also lengthy, but the only facts I can offer you are a survey and anecdotal evidence. Not a single branch of the military systematically tracks this collateral misconduct.…”