The Army has released a directive expanding important legal services to certain victims of military sexual assault, but the directive fails to cover Guard members who become victims of sexual assault outside of their drill weekend or military duty
Bipartisan bill – which Klobuchar introduced in the Senate with Senator Kelly Ayotte and Kline introduced in the House – would ensure survivors of sexual assault receive support services if there is any connection between the crime and their service
Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar and Representative John Kline today announced that their bipartisan legislation to ensure the National Guard and Reserve’s ability to assist victims of sexual assault passed the House of Representatives as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The Army has released a directive expanding important legal services to certain victims of military sexual assault, but the directive fails to cover Guard members who become victims of sexual assault outside of their drill weekend or military duty. The lawmakers’ bipartisan bill – which Klobuchar introduced in the Senate with Senator Kelly Ayotte and Kline introduced in the House – would ensure survivors of sexual assault receive support services if there is any connection between the crime and their service. The bill would require the relevant service secretary to provide Special Victims Counsel to the member regardless of when the assault occurred.
“Our National Guard and Reserve members who put their lives on the line to keep us safe deserve to know that we have their backs in return,” Klobuchar said. “This bipartisan bill will extend critical protections to Guard and Reserve members who become victims of sexual assault, and today’s action moves us one step closer to getting this important bill signed into law.”
“The number of sexual assault victims among our sons and daughters in uniform is unacceptable and I remain committed to ensuring victims have access to the critical support they need and eliminating the scourge of sexual assault in our armed forces,” said Kline, a 25-year veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps whose wife is a retired Army nurse. “I was pleased to author legislation and work with Sen. Klobuchar to ensure our Guard members receive the same services available to other service members.”
"The Sexual Assault provision of the National Defense Authorization Act will establish a new and important legal resource for victims,” said Maj. Gen. Rick Nash, the Adjutant General of the Minnesota National Guard. “Currently, members of the National Guard who are sexually assaulted while not on duty cannot access special victims counsel services, which provide legal assistance. Under this new provision, specially-trained counsels will provide legal advice and representation to the victim."
After the Army released its directive, Klobuchar and Kline led a letter signed by Minnesota’s entire Congressional Delegation calling on the U.S. Army to ensure that the Minnesota National Guard can fully assist victims of sexual assault regardless of when the assault occurred. In a letter to Secretary of the Army John McHugh, Minnesota’s congressional delegation raised concerns that the lack of clarity around the new directive could undermine the Minnesota National Guard’s ability to effectively provide support services to survivors of sexual assaults.
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