This bill: H.R. 7560 – Sexual Harassment Independent Investigations and Prosecution Act
Here’s some context, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2021, S. 1605, made sexual harassment a punitive crime but it left many more concerns than resolutions for some. The NDAA specified that an “independent investigator” would investigate the formal sexual harassment complaint, but it lacks any on what it means to be an independent investigator. The second major issue with the NDAA is that it left the adjunction up to the commander, not a special trial counsel like with all the other sex related crimes. While a judge would still preside over the sentencing and plea agreement, it’s still up to the unit commander whether to persecute the accused.
H.R. 7560 would correct these issues. It defines an “independent investigator” to someone outside the chain of command and the subject of the complaint, and that this individual would be trained in sexual harassment investigations. It also adds sexual harassment to the responsibility of the special trial counsel instead of the commander.
This is so important to accomplish because sex harassment victims are more likely to be assaulted. And sexual harassment victims are more likely to not report due to their lack of confidence in their unit commanders handling the military justice system.
Please contact your elected officials and tell them why this is so important to become law.