The House of Representatives on Friday passed a wide-ranging annual defense spending bill, authorizing appropriations for 2014 with an additional focus on the recent controversies surrounding sexual assault in the military.The bill, which authorizes all manners of funds toward keeping the Defense Department functional for the 2014 fiscal year, passed in a bipartisan vote of 315-108.
It authorizes $638 billion in funding for the military, as well as for various costs associated with weapons, aircraft, ships and personnel.In addition to those routine authorizations, however, the bill also cracks down on sexual assault in the military, an issue that has been under the microscope since a recent report revealed that there were 26,000 cases of military sexual assault in 2012.
is this just another hostage bill by the right wing, over doing one part in order to slip another part they don't favor as much but pressure forces their hand.
why does this assault "rider" not deserve it's own separate vote can't be about time they are still beating the pin the tail on the head donkey, in spite of no clues or evidence but plenty of contrary testimony.
imo "IT STILL DOES NOT" have any real importance to them, just a bone thrown in the women's direction, except our women don't go for bones.
The bill includes a mandatory two-year jail sentence for armed service members convicted in a military court of rape or sexual assault and would strip commanders of the power to overturn convictions in rape and sexual assault cases.Moreover, it calls for the dismissal or dishonorable discharge of service members convicted of attempting or committing sex-related crimes such as rape, sexual assault, or forced sodomy. It also would allow victims of sexual assault to apply for a permanent transfer out of their unit and allow commanders to temporarily transfer those who have been accused of sexual assault.Measures in that package include an automatic review in the event that a commander or military lawyer decides not to prosecute a sexual assault complaint, and a provision that would make it illegal for people to retaliate against sexual assault victims. It would also make it illegal for commanders to dismiss court-martial convictions.The Senate bill was amended by Levin this week to keep the decision of whether to prosecute in the chain of command is contrary to what Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., proposed, which she said would encourage more victims to speak out. She called Levin's final package "insufficient."
i still see ways for them to continue on, say an allegation is denied but true will those laws apply to them or are they open to the old ways of dismissals. the transfer of the accused to another preying ground sounds really like the Catholic MO in similar cases of sexual assault.
while giving in to what is right does not make then look gallant but kickers and screamers against. until we hear that there are actual mitigation's against offenders then to me DDSS.
