SANCHEZ RELEASES STATEMENT ON FINDINGS OF THE AIR FORCE INVESTIGATION AT LACKLAND

Nov 15, 2012 Issues: Defense

 

WASHINGTON, D.C.–Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-47), senior member and highest ranking female on the House Armed Services Committee, today released the following statement in response to the findings of an investigation by the Air Force into the epidemic of sexual assault occurring at Lackland Air Force Base.  Congresswoman Sanchez visited Lackland last month to meet with the victims. 

 

“As the commander-directed investigation revealed, Lackland was a product of lack of leadership and clear neglect of communication and the climate of the base,” said Sanchez.  “The Air Force plans to introduce many new initiatives into its training regimen to prevent the sexual assault of its service members.  However, it is clear that the many initiatives proposed by the Air Force will only be effective when leadership takes them seriously and makes them effective. 

 

“Congress has been working for a long time in order to change the culture of the military and its tendency to minimize the gravity of sexual misconduct.  Sexual assault is a crime and must be treated and disciplined accordingly.  Another major issue at Lackland was its complete disregard for communication and tracking of these sexual assault cases.  Nothing was going up the chain of command at Lackland, and it is evident that information was not being recorded or tracked for these victims -- why, because it was not taken seriously.”

 

A member of the Armed Services Committee since coming to Congress in 1997, Rep. Sanchez immediately began pushing for significant measures to fight sexual assault in the military, using the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) as a vehicle.  Sanchez led the effort to update outdated sexual assault provisions in the Uniform Code of Military Justice, originally enacted in 1950, in order to grant additional victims' rights. The provisions were passed in the 2005 defense authorization bill.  She also lobbied to implement a sexual assault database in the 2009 National Defense Authorization Act, Public Law No: 110-417.