{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://timryan.house.gov/press-release/congressman-tim-ryan-praises-passage-ndaa-and-military-sexual-assault-reforms", "Congressman Tim Ryan Praises Passage of the NDAA and Military Sexual Assault Reforms", "2013-12-13", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Tim Ryan", "R000577", "timryan.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Tim Ryan voted in favor of the Fiscal Year 2014 National Defense Authorization Act (FY14 NDAA), which in addition to authorizing over $625 billion in budget authority for national defense programs included 90 pages of new legislation addressing sexual assault in the military, including legislative changes Congressman Ryan introduced earlier this year.\u00a0 \n\u201cI am encouraged that the House passed National Defense Authorization Act includes significant and thoughtful reforms to prevent sexual assaults in the military. This is a good first step towards providing much needed support and protection to survivors of sexual assault,\u201d said Congressman Ryan. \u201cWe need to continue the process of finding innovative solutions in providing expanded protections to sexual assault victims.\u201d\nLike the Combating Military Sexual Assault bill Congressman Ryan introduced this summer, the FY14 NDAA enhances the responsibilities of the Pentagon\u2019s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, ensures availability of Sexual Assault Response Coordinators for members of the National Guard and the Reserves, and provides for Special Victims\u2019 Counsel to advise and advocate for survivors of sexual assault and it ensures that no commander can throw out a sexual assault conviction. Further, the FY14 NDAA includes a victims\u2019 bill of rights, reforms the pretrial investigation procedures, establishes minimum sentences for offenders and other reforms that target sexual assault and support victims. \nThe bill includes several provisions that recognize the strain of more than a decade of war has placed on our troops and the equipment, technology, and tools. The bill provides $176.5 billion in operation and maintenance funding to help mend some of the damage that has been done to overused equipment and neglected facilities. At a time when military readiness continues to be hurt by mindless cuts through sequestration, this funding is vitally important. In addition, the NDAA bill does not authorize an additional round of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC). The bill enhances the President\u2019s authority to transfer and release detainees to foreign countries from the United States Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (GTMO).\n\u201cWe must do everything in our power to prevent sexual assaults in our military, and I will continue to look for new opportunities to protect survivors of sexual assault in the military. I also voted for this bill because of its support for our military men and women, providing them with the tools they need to protect this nation and the benefits they have earned while doing it,\u201d said Congressman Ryan.\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": ["http://timryan.house.gov/press-release/congressman-tim-ryan-praises-passage-ndaa-and-military-sexual-assault-reforms"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.435830956324935, "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"}