The Sexual Assault Training Oversight and Prevention Act
The STOP Act
Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-San Francisco, San Mateo) introduced legislation on November 16, 2011 to dramatically reform how sexual assaults and rape in the military are treated (download bill summary.) Speier stated, “For too long the military’s response to rape victims has been: ‘take an aspirin and go to bed.’ We owe our brave women and men in the military a justice system that protects them, not punishes them when they become victims of sexual assaults and rape committed by other service members.”
“To end this needless injustice, I am proposing a legislative remedy and fully endorsing the website, Protect Our Defenders, which will provide the grass roots mechanics required to make our military leaders and Congress understand that what has been going on before their very eyes for decades is unconscionable and must be stopped. We owe our brave women and men in the military a justice process that protects them, not punishes them when they become victims of sexual assaults and rape.”
To visit the web site of Protect Our Defenders, click here.
And consider signing their petition demanding that Congress create a NEW method for reporting sexual assault in the military.
Congresswoman Speier has made over a dozen speeches to Congress on the topic of rape and sexual assault in the military, to view them on her web site, click here. Or view the videos on usmvaw.com, here.
Helen Benedict has written a piece on the STOP Act and why it matters at the Ms. Blog. To read it, click here.
For a look at the media reports on The Sexual Assault Training Oversight and Prevention Act — the STOP Act, click the links below:
Lawmaker Wants Military Rape Cases Shifted to New Office, Miami Herald, November 18, 2011
A Crisis in Our Military, Rep. Jackie Speier, Huffington Post, November 17. 2011
Rep. Speier Wants New Office to Investigate Military Sexual Assaults, The Hill, November 17, 2011
Democrat Jackie Speier Introduces Military Rape Bill, 89.3 KPPC, November 17, 2011
