Coupleted in committee a weeks ago and had over 650 amendments submitted to the official mark of the chairman and the subcommittee marks. We process to those amendments and adopted 475 amendments in. Ommittee i want to thank our staff for the incredible amount of work to work with members and various interested parties to get us to that product. I am very pleased we were able to get that done and pass the bill out of the Armed Services committee unanimously 560 with broad support. I want to thank the Ranking Member of the committee for his incredible leadership during this process. Partnereen a terrific as the chairman of the committee and as the Ranking Member. As heill be his last ndaa is retiring from congress. I want to thank him for his great work and leadership. I want to emphasize a point i have made many times, the Armed Services Committee Works in a bipartisan way and produces a legislative product in a manner i think should be an example for all of congress. That does not hap
354, h. R. 6395, a bill to authorize appropriations for 2021 for military activities of the department of military d for construction to prescribe military personnel strength for for other year and purposes. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to House Resolution 053, in lieu of the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the committee on the services printed in bill, an amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of rules committee is adopted and the bill, as amended, is considered as read. Debatable for one hour equally divided and controlled by the chair and the ng minority member of committee on Armed Services. The gentleman from washington, smith, and the gentleman from texas, mr. Thornberry, each minutes. Rol 30 the chair recognizes the gentleman from washington. Mr. Smith mr. Speaker, i ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days to revise and and to heir remarks include extraneous material on h. R. 6395. The speaker pro tempore witho
Our oversight over the and our t of Defense National Security Budget and priorities, and this bill reflects that. Start by thanking a lot of people who have done an enormous amount of work to make this possible. Started in committee a couple of weeks ago. E had over 650 amendments submitted to the original mark of the chairman and the subcommittee marks. Processed those amendments and actually adopted 475 committee. In i want to thank our staff more than i possibly can for the amount of work they did to go through all of those amendments, to work with various to work with interested parties to get us to that product. I am very pleased we were able that done and pass the bill out of the Armed Services unanimously. 560. With broad support. I want at this point thank the Ranking Member of the committee, mr. Thornberry, for his incredible leadership during this process. Hes been a terrific partner, when he was chairman of the committee and now that hes the Ranking Member of the committee.
The House Armed Services military personnel subcommittee heard from three survivors who described their treatment by their chains of command and fellow Service Members. The second panel featured representatives of the military. Ranches this is two hours and 20 minutes. Ive been fighting the epidemic of Sexual Assault in the military since 2011. More accountability for some commanders who prefer to sleep assault under the rug. We have made important changes to the Legal Process so that it more closely resembles the civilian Justice System. Commanders can no longer unilaterally throughout cases. A good selfdefense is gone, while one witness suggests not all commanders are falling following the law. These reforms have undoubtedly made the system better for survivors more credible overall, yet assault rates remain far too high. Nearly 15,000 in fiscal year 2016. Reporting rates are powerless they, only 32 . The experience of some is better, but it is not good. More Service Members trust su
Treatment by their chains of command and fellow servicemembers. The second panel featured representatives of the military branches judge advocate general offices. This hearing is two hours and 20 minutes. This is a very important issue we will discuss today. I have been fighting this epidemic of a Sexual Assault in the military since 2011. Have made meaningful if fitful progress addressing this scourge. The resume or accountability for some commanders who would prefer to sweep assaults under the rug. Weve also made important changes to the Legal Process so it is more closely resembling the civilian Justice System. Commanders can no longer unilaterally throw out convictions. The good soldier defenses gone, though one witness argues not all commanders are following the law and they are not required to endure 48 to 72 hours of cruel cross examination absent normal legal checks. These reforms have undoubtedly made the system better for survivors and more credible overall. Yet assault rates