June 13, 2013

*Watch Floor Speech Here*

Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada’s First District spoke out against sexual assault in the military on the House Floor today. Next week, she will introduce the National Guard Military Sexual Trauma Parity Act to ensure that victims of sexual trauma in the National Guard have access to the resources and services they need. Below are her remarks:

"I rise today to give voice to the thousands of men and women who have been sexually assaulted while serving their country in our Armed Forces.

“The Pentagon estimates that as many as 26,000 service members were sexually assaulted last year; that’s 70 assaults a day. But only 13 percent of the victims have reported the crime because of fear of retaliation.

“We must establish a culture in our military that has zero tolerance for sexual assault. A culture that protects, not intimidates victims; that prosecutes, not excuses perpetrators; and that denounces, not ignores sexual violence.

“We must make it a priority to end this unfathomable crime within our military and provide victims with the care they need and deserve.

“Next week, I will introduce the National Guard Military Sexual Trauma Parity Act, to ensure that victims of sexual trauma in the National Guard also have access to the resources and services they need.”