{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://web.archive.org/web/20140504210616/http://meehan.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=49&itemid=677", "Bipartisan Defense Bill Includes Meehan/Speier Protections for Assault Victims", "2013-12-10", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Pat Meehan", "M001181", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Bipartisan Defense Bill Includes Meehan/Speier Protections for Assault Victims\n\n\t\u00a0\n\n\tWASHINGTON, DC \u2013\u00a0Bipartisan compromise legislation announced today by House and Senate negotiators includes provisions sponsored by Rep. Patrick Meehan (R/PA-7) and Rep. Jackie Speier (D/CA-14) that protect the victims of sexual assault in the military.\n\n\t\u00a0\n\n\tAccording to a fact sheet\u00a0distributed by the House Armed Services Committee, the compromise agreement includes a number of reforms that address the issue of sexual assault in the military. The deal strips commanders of their authority to dismiss a finding by a court martial. It would also prohibit commanders from reducing guilty findings to guilty of a lesser offence. Earlier this year, Meehan and Speier introduced\u00a0legislation that removes this authority.\u00a0This issue earned national attention when a sexual assault conviction was\u00a0overturned by a commander in Italy.\n\n\t\u00a0\n\n\t\u00a0\n\n\t\u201cThe men and women who serve our nation in uniform should have confidence that victims of sexual assault will be treated fairly and that the perpetrators will face justice,\u201d Meehan said. \u201cThese measures are prudent, responsible reforms that protect the victims of sexual assault in our military.\u201d\n\n\t\u00a0\n\n\t\u201cI commend Chairman McKeon, Chairman Levin and their colleagues for including these vital protections in their legislation and I urge both the House and the Senate to pass it promptly,\u201d Meehan said.", 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/20140504210616/http://meehan.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=49&itemid=677"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.763475127518177, "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"}