May 28, 2014
Washington, D.C. – Today Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada’s First District celebrated House passage of the National Guard Military Sexual Trauma Parity Act, introduced by Titus in June 2013. This bipartisan legislation closes a loophole in current law and enables victims of military sexual trauma who are members of the National Guard and other reserve components to receive the services and treatment they need. Under current law, victims of military sexual assault who are in the National Guard and other reserve components can qualify for VA benefits and services, such as counseling and medical treatment, only if the assault occurred while on active duty. These benefits and services do not extend to victims of sexual assault during mandatory training missions even though members of the Guard are required to spend one weekend a month and two weeks a year on training missions.
“Guardsmembers who are "always ready, always there" to protect our country deserve the same support from their government. Sadly, an unacceptable gap in current law has left certain victims of sexual assault without the support and treatment that they need to recover and heal, physically and emotionally,” said Titus. “Today’s House passage of the National Guard Military Sexual Trauma Parity Act is a significant step toward closing a glaring loophole in current law and ensuring that all victims of sexual assault in the National Guard and other reserve components receive the care they need, whether on active duty or on a training mission. I hope the Senate will take swift action to advance this important legislation and send it to the President's desk without delay.”
Titus is the Ranking Member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. The legislation has 27 bipartisan cosponsors and is endorsed by the Disabled American Veterans, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Servicewomen Action Network (SWAN), Paralyzed Veterans of America, Wounded Warrior Project, Vets First, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.