Military Sexual Trauma

Floor Speech

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Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I am an original cosponsor of H.R. 642, a bill
that would help the men and women in our armed services who are victims
of sexual assault get access to the care that they need.

Sexual assault is not acceptable anywhere in our society. It is not
something many people like to talk about, but it is a very real
problem. According to the Department of Defense, 20,000 servicemembers
said they had experienced at least one incident of unwanted sexual
contact in 2014.

In my time as an emergency medicine physician, I have seen the deep,
longstanding, and brutal psychological trauma that results from sexual
assault, and I know how critical it is that victims receive the
treatment they need and perpetrators are brought to justice.

Mr. Speaker, this bill takes much-needed steps to ensure that
treatment options are more accessible for our veterans who were victims
of sexual assault by helping to pay for travel expenses for those who
need to seek care outside of the VA system.

Mr. Speaker, this is a medical need and a moral imperative. I urge
all my colleagues to support H.R. 642 and ensure servicemembers who are
victims of sexual trauma receive the care they need.

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