{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://web.archive.org/web/20140509043251/http://www.collins.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=a9f327db-51f8-4ec8-92c6-0085375a870b", "Sens. Murray, Collins Urge Action on Merchant Marine Sexual Assaults", "2014-05-08", "2014", "2014-05", "Republican", "House", "ME", "Susan Collins", "C001035", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "(Washington, D.C.) - Today, U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Susan Collins (R-ME), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Transportation Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations Subcommittee, sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Inspector General\u00a0urging him to seriously examine the roles that senior leadership at the Maritime Administration (MARAD) and within the Office of the Secretary have played in overseeing the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), which continues to be plagued by allegations of sexual assault and harassment. The DOT Inspector General is currently conducting a formal audit of steps taken by the agency to address the issue. In their letter, the Senators also requested a meeting with the Inspector General as soon as possible to discuss his work on the audit to date.\nThe call for action comes after a series of disturbing, and much-delayed, reports from the MARAD and USMMA about the conditions at the Academy. On March 27, 2014, over a year past its deadline, the Secretary of Transportation released the 2011-2012 Academic Year Biennial Survey and Report on Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault at the United States Merchant Marine Academy. From the 2009-2010 to 2011-2012 academic year surveys, the estimated rate of sexual assault more than doubled, and the estimated rate of sexual harassment increased by more than 500 percent.\n\"The failure to demonstrate measurable progress suggests the reforms the Academy began implementing in 2011 are inadequate,\" the Senators wrote. \"Even more troubling is the fact that, once again, none of the incidents in the latest report were formally reported.\"\nIn the previous survey released to Congress in November, 2011 midshipmen reported that 11 assaults and 21 sexual harassment incidents occurred during the 2009-2010 academic year.\u00a0 In response to these findings, the Secretary developed an action plan to improve prevention, awareness and training. Despite these steps, data from the most recent survey indicate that conditions at the Academy have gotten worse. The most recent survey estimates that 25 assaults and 136 incidents of sexual harassment took place during the 2011-2012 academic year.\nLast month, U.S. DOT Secretary Foxx appeared before the Subcommittee, where both Senators Murray and Collins expressed their frustration with the delayed action and troubling findings. (Watch video starting at 1:31:00)\n\u00a0\nThe full text of the Senators' letter follows:\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\nDear Mr. Scovel,\nOn March 27, 2014, the Secretary of Transportation released the 2011-2012 Academic Year Biennial Survey and Report on Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault at the United States Merchant Marine Academy.\u00a0 The findings in this report are very disturbing and demonstrate a need for greater oversight and reform at the Academy.\u00a0 From the 2009-2010 to 2011-2012 academic year surveys, the estimated rate of sexual assault more than doubled, and the estimated rate of sexual harassment increased by more than 500 percent.\u00a0 The failure to demonstrate measurable progress suggests the reforms the Academy began implementing in 2011 are inadequate.\u00a0 Even more troubling is the fact that, once again, none of the incidents in the latest report were formally reported.\u00a0\nIn the previous survey released to Congress in November, 2011 midshipmen reported that 11 assaults and 21 sexual harassment incidents occurred during the 2009-2010 academic year.\u00a0 In response to these findings, the Secretary developed an action plan to improve prevention, awareness and training. Academy policies against sexual assault were revised and updated; a Sexual Assault Response Coordinator was hired;\u00a0 procedures were changed to improve reporting; and, protocols and additional training were developed to specifically target the at-sea training year, where over half of the incidents were reported to have taken place.\u00a0\nDespite these steps, conditions at the Academy have gotten worse. The most recent survey estimates that 25 assaults and 136 incidents of sexual harassment took place during the 2011-2012 academic year.\u00a0 While we recognize that changes in the methodology between the 2011-2012 and 2009-2010 surveys may have affected the results, the dramatic increase in the number of incidents makes clear that the actions taken following the first survey did not have the desired effect on behavior or student safety.\u00a0\u00a0 We strongly believe the problem requires further attention beyond the steps the Department initiated in 2011.\nWe understand you are currently engaged in an audit of this issue.\u00a0 We ask that you consider the findings of the most recent survey as you evaluate the implementation of policies and programs designed to prevent sexual assault and harassment at the Academy.\u00a0 In addition, please examine the roles that senior leadership at the Maritime Administration and within the Office of the Secretary played in overseeing and expediting the implementation of the action plans.\u00a0 Finally, we respectfully request a meeting with you as soon as possible to discuss your work on this audit to date. We expect the findings in your report will support the Committee's oversight of the United States Merchant Marine Academy.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\nSincerely,\n\u00a0\nPatty Murray, Chairman\nUnited States Senate Subcommittee on Transportation Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies\n\u00a0\nSusan Collins, Ranking Member\nUnited States Senate Subcommittee on Transportation Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies", 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/20140509043251/http://www.collins.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=a9f327db-51f8-4ec8-92c6-0085375a870b"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.338150817900896, "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"}