NWLC Applauds Senator Gillibrand's Legislation That Moves Key Decisions in Sexual Assault Cases Outside the Chain of Command

Bicameral, bipartisan legislation provides accountability to the military justice system

(Washington, D.C.) Today, Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand (D-NY), along with Senators Collins (R-ME), Boxer (D-CA), Johanns (R-NE), Begich (D-AK), Blumenthal (D-CT), Coons (D-DE), Franken (D-MN), Hirono (D-HI), Milulski (D-MD), Pryor (D-AR), Schatz (D-HI), Shaheen (D-NH), and Representatives Benishek (R-MI), Gabbard (D-HI), Hanna (R-NY) and Sinema (D-AZ) announced The Military Justice Improvement Act, the bicameral legislation that would reform the military justice system by moving the decision-making, prosecution and referral for prosecution of all serious crimes from the chain of command.

The following is a statement by Nancy Duff Campbell, Co-President of the National Women’s Law Center:

“We applaud Senator Gillibrand’s legislation that would deliver increased accountability to the military justice system.  By moving key elements of the way in which sexual assault offenses are handled from the chain of command, the bill would restore confidence in the system and encourage assault survivors to come forward.  As recent events have demonstrated, the military justice system itself has been a factor in the Department of Defense’s inability to stem the tide of sexual assaults.   We call on Congress to promptly move this legislation forward.”

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