releases: https://web.archive.org/web/20140221094256/http://www.mccaskill.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=11996
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://web.archive.org/web/20140221094256/http://www.mccaskill.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=11996 | McCaskill Testifies on Reforms to Military Sexual Assault Panel | 2013-09-25 | 2013 | 2013-09 | Democrat | House | MO | Claire McCaskill | M001170 | web.archive.org | legacy | WASHINGTON - Continuing her push to enact a host of historic reforms designed to curb sexual assault in the military, U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill this week addressed the Sexual Assault Response Systems Panel-a panel created by last year's annual defense bill, to examine the issue. The panel, which will develop recommendations on how to improve the military's response to incidence of sexual assault, includes experts from the military, academia and the private sector and during yesterday's session focused on the role of the commander in the military justice system. McCaskill helped to shape reforms that would remove a military commander's ability to overturn jury verdicts and subject them to civilian review as sexual assault cases proceed to prosecution, but would retain commanders' ability to refer cases for court-martial. "We do know this-over the last two years there have been almost 100 cases where prosecutors have turned down cases and commanders have gone forward," said McCaskill, addressing an alternative plan that would completely strip military commanders of any role in the courts-martial process. "I believe that if we let commanders off the hook from any decision-making, we are not going to make progress as quickly as we would otherwise," said McCaskill, a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Additional reforms approved by the Senate Armed Services Committee include provisions to mandate dishonorable discharge or dismissal for anyone convicted of sexual assault, make it a crime to retaliate against victims who report a sexual assault, provide a Special Victims Counsel to give independent legal advice to servicemembers who report a sexual assault, and eliminate the statute of limitations in these cases, as well as many others. Click HERE to read a recent opinion column by McCaskill and Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez-a sexual assault survivor-about the reforms under consideration. Much of McCaskill's testimony focused on her previous work as a courtroom prosecutor of sex crimes, and the various pressures prosecutors can be exposed to as they decide whether or not to proceed aggressively with prosecutions. McCaskill also told the panel that efforts to combat sexual assaults in the military could be undermined by a false narrative that those who do not support stripping commanders of court-martial authority do not support victims. "It's hard for the overwhelming number of people in uniform to deal with the suggestion that we don't care about victims," responded panelist James Houck, vice admiral, U.S. Navy (Ret.). "I also think the interplay between the JAG and the commander is critical because the JAGs aren't perfect...when a forceful JAG interacts with a commander and there's some back and forth, they get the best decision." McCaskill has relentlessly fought to combat sexual assaults in the military. The Senate Armed Services Committee recently gave unanimous approval to a series of aggressive, historic reforms addressing sexual assault, including bipartisan, bicameral provisions by McCaskill that will significantly boost accountability for perpetrators and protections for survivors. Read more about McCaskill's fight to curb sexual assaults in the military at www.McCaskill.senate.gov/MilitaryJustice. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |