National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005

NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2005

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 648 and rule XVIII, the Chair declares the House in the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union for the further consideration of the bill, H.R. 4200.

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Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition, but I am not in opposition.

The CHAIRMAN pro tempore. Without objection, the gentlewoman from West Virginia (Mrs. Capito) is recognized for 5 minutes.

There was no objection.

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Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Chairman, Americans are concerned about the welfare of the men and women we send to defend our country. The American people understand that war is violent. What the American people will not tolerate is the assault or rape of a female soldier by a fellow soldier. Simply put, this is unacceptable.

Recent reports of sexual assaults of female soldiers serving abroad, along with numerous cases of assaults in or around military bases, clearly demonstrate the need for the Department of Defense to change their approach to this problem.

Women are serving in the military, and we are mighty proud of them. Along with my colleagues today, the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter), the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Solis) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ginny Brown-Waite), we offer this amendment to help the military work through this problem, understand its causes, and put in place measures that will prevent it from happening.

The amendment calls for the Secretary of Defense to increase training for officers so they are better equipped to deal with sexual assaults. The amendment calls for a clear and precise protocol that protects privacy and ensures safety and which women can follow to report an attack. The amendment ensures access to the appropriate medical treatment and counseling for women at all times during their service, no matter where they are in the world. This policy is to be put in place by January 1, 2005.

Members of both the House and Senate, including my colleagues on the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues, have examined this issue, along with the Department of Defense's Task Force on Care For Victims of Sexual Assault. We agree that the action called for in this amendment is beyond necessary to deal with the multiple incidents of sexual assaults in the military.

These steps, which are being mirrored in the Senate's version of the legislation, will help the Armed Forces prevent attacks from happening, as well as put proper procedures in place that bring aid and comfort to those who have survived attacks.

I am hopeful the action by this Congress will help bring a change in the attitude in the U.S. military. It needs to be made perfectly clear that it is unacceptable to sexually assault a female soldier; and if you choose to make that mistake, you will be held accountable for your actions, no matter who you are, what your rank is, or what condition you serve under. I am in full and hardy support of this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 1 minute. Mr. Chairman, I want to take this time to thank the members of the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues, and my co-chairwoman, the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter). Her work on this issue has been very valuable, and she has been very aggressive; and I think the result of our hearings are bearing fruit here in this amendment.

I would also like to thank the chairman of the committee and the ranking member for their letting us offer this amendment and also, hopefully, making it a part of the bill.

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.