Kerry /Collins bill to help service members who are the victim of sexual assault accepted in defense

[karynnj]

bill.

The Senate Armed Services Committee has approved a bipartisan amendment, based on legislation authored by Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Susan Collins (R-ME), that would strengthen protections for service members who are victims of sexual assault. The amendment to the Fiscal Year 2012 Defense Authorization bill is similar to the Defense Sexual Trauma Response, Oversight and Good Governance Act (The Defense STRONG Act), which Senators Kerry and Collins introduced last month that would strengthen legal protections for sexual assault victims and improve the systems to prevent and respond to sexual assault in the military. The amendment is cosponsored by Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Mark Begich (D-AK), Kay Hagan (D-NC), Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Scott Brown (R-MA) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).

Sexual assault has no place in our military, where brave men and women stand up to defend us every day," said Senator Kerry. "Our armed forces rightly pride themselves on honor, which makes these crimes doubly tragic because sexual assault is beyond dishonorable. When I was a prosecutor I saw the terrible effects of sexual violence firsthand, and I'm proud to see this amendment passed as an important step forward to end sexual assault in the military once and for all."

http://politicalnews.me/?id=7966&keys=SEXUAL-ASSAULT-PROTECTIONS-MILITARY

(from Collins website)