{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221093845/http://www.mccaskill.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=12044", "McCaskill: Historic Reforms Achieved, ?but this is no finish line?", "2013-12-20", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "MO", "Claire McCaskill", "M001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Former sex crimes prosecutor and U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill today released the following statement after the Senate approved this year\u2019s annual defense bill\u2014which includes dozens of historic provisions to protect and empower victims of sexual assault, boost prosecutions of sexual predators, and hold military commanders accountable: \n\u201cFor me, this year has been largely defined by my fight for victims of military sexual assault\u2014and I know that\u2019s also the case for many of my colleagues. We all recognized the crisis that sexual crimes represent to our servicemembers, and we pursued reforms that would encourage survivors to report these assaults, lead to more prosecutions, and put these perpetrators behind bars.\n\u201cThe overwhelming majority of these reforms were met with near-consensus, but there were also areas of spirited disagreement\u2014areas that often received a big share of the spotlight. What received less attention was the incredible dedication and tenacity with which Congress approached this work. Washington is often characterized as \u2018broken,\u2019 and too often that characterization is true. But this issue should give us all optimism that we can work together to find serious solutions to tough problems.\n\u201cToday represents a huge win for victims of sexual assault,\u00a0and for justice in America\u2019s armed forces, but this is no finish line. In the months and years ahead, vigilance will be required to ensure that these historic reforms are implemented forcefully and effectively. Given the incredible advocacy and passion displayed by so many on this issue, I know we are finally, belatedly, headed in the right direction.\u201d\nTonight\u2019s legislation contains bipartisan reforms to the \u201cArticle 32\u201d pre-trial process, as well as a long list of historic provisions, including:\n \nStripping military commanders of their ability to overturn jury convictions\n  \n \n \nRequiring civilian review if a commander declines to prosecute a case\n \n \nAssigning victims their own independent legal counsel to protect their rights and fight for their interests\n \n \nMandating dishonorable discharge for anyone convicted of sexual assault\n \n \nCriminalizing retaliation against victims who report a sexual assault\n \n \n \nEliminating the statute of limitations in rape and sexual assault cases\n \nRead more about McCaskill's fight to curb sexual assaults in the military at \nwww.McCaskill.senate.gov/MilitaryJustice.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221093845/http://www.mccaskill.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=12044"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5534770209342241, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}