releases: http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-statement-on-passage-of-national-defense-authorization-act
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-statement-on-passage-of-national-defense-authorization-act | Kuster Statement on Passage of National Defense Authorization Act | 2014-12-04 | 2014 | 2014-12 | Democrat | House | NH | Ann Kuster | K000382 | kuster.house.gov | legacy | Washington, DC – This afternoon, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) released the following statement regarding the passage of H.R. 3979, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA): “Today, we voted to continue to fund our brave men and women serving in our military by passing the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2015. I was pleased this bill included important provisions I championed to help protect victims and prevent against instances of sexual assault in the military, and I believe we must continue to work together for additional reforms to ensure that no military officer is ever forced to experience sexual trauma while courageously serving our nation.” “I was, however, very concerned with the lack of debate over this bill. While reauthorizing funding for our military is crucial to protecting our homeland security and our troops, we must also continue to have an open and transparent conversation about how best to protect our national interests moving forward. I look forward to reopening the debate over U.S. involvement in the Middle East on the House floor this January, when I will continue to oppose any proposals to put boots on the ground in Iraq or other volatile areas in the region.” The NDAA passed today includes new efforts to address and curb instances of sexual assault in the military. It eliminates the “good soldier defense," which allows a military officer to be presumed innocent based on his or her “general military character”; it gives victims more power to choose how their offenders will be prosecuted (through court-martial or civilian channels); and it increases oversight and partially ties performance evaluations to the way in which commanding officers’ handle military sexual assault cases. As a member of the U.S. House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and the Military Sexual Assault Prevention Caucus, Congresswoman Kuster has continuously pushed the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense to address and eradicate instances of sexual assault in the military. Kuster has introduced legislation along with Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-IN) to provide travel benefits to victims of military sexual assault so they can access the medical services they need to recover. And just last year, Kuster helped pass crucial, bipartisan legislation that enhances whistleblower protections for service members who report instances of sexual assault in the military. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |