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Protecting our Servicemembers


 



Congresswoman Tsongas visits Hanscom AFB with Rep. Adam Smith

 

OVERVIEW

I have made protecting our troops, both when they are serving in harm’s way and when returning home, one of my highest priorities. The men and women of our armed forces make up the most effective and professional military in the world and their selfless dedication to defending our nation is something we can never take for granted.

I grew up in a military family and know the challenges and hardships that come with military service. As a senior member on the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), and representing a District with a proud tradition of military service, I have worked to introduce legislation to ensure that our servicemembers have the resources they need, the protection they deserve, and the best care and services we can provide.

During the 115th Congress, I have had the honor and good fortune to serve as the highest-ranking Democrat on the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee which oversees major programs managed by the armed services – including critical personal protective equipment items such as helmets and body armor.

It has become apparent that in our modern world, clearly drawn front lines have become a thing of the past, due to complex locations with ubiquitous enemy threats. In places like Afghanistan, Syria, and Iraq, the “frontline” is barely visible at all. Modern, constant and pervasive danger requires that we look at how we can update and improve upon the resources that keep our men and women safe in the field. Similarly, we are tasked as leaders and lawmakers to ensure all servicemen and women are treated equally, fairly and with respect within the ranks of the armed forces in order to best utilize the talents they provide.

One of the issues I’ve been compelled to focus on has been the epidemic of sexual assault in the military. Additionally, I have pressed the Department of Defense to increase its efforts to prevent suicides of military servicemembers and their families.

But these are just a few of the issues I am tackling on behalf of our servicemen and women. As our servicemembers continue to fight for our freedoms and to defend this great nation, I will continue to fight for laws that better protect and support them, their families, and our veterans.

 

IMPROVING BODY ARMOR

Several years ago during a House Armed Services Committee hearing, I asked a young sergeant if he was ever tempted to take off his protective gear due to its weight. He hesitated and glanced sheepishly at the general sitting nearby before giving a confident reply: “Yes, ma’am.”

He explained the armor was cumbersome, heavy and that sometimes it was just easier to maneuver without it.

On one of my visits to Afghanistan, I encountered a colonel with similar concerns. He heaved off his armor and, rubbing his sore knees, spoke of the burden the gear’s weight put on his joints.

Soldiers deployed in Afghanistan are outfitted with body armor that weighs as much as forty pounds. When combined with the gear that troops must carry in the field, the total weight our soldiers carry can exceed 120 pounds. It can lead to long term musculoskeletal injuries and an elevated risk that armor may be removed in the field. In fact, military leaders, including Army Vice Chief of Staff General Peter Chiarelli, have reported that the number of soldiers with musculoskeletal injuries from routinely carrying the heavy equipment is increasing. With this in mind, I required the Department of Defense to report to the Armed Services Committee on ways it is adapting its training regimen to better enable servicemembers to adjust to the heavy loads they wear into combat.

My visits to Iraq and Afghanistan have offered me the invaluable experience of hearing directly from those who are on the front lines, risking so much every day. Servicemembers, like those mentioned above, have repeatedly expressed the need to reduce the weight of the equipment they carry, especially their body armor.

Major Chris Gramstorff, of the Massachusetts Army National Guard, explained, “every ounce you can take off soldiers’ equipment without sacrificing protection is a godsend, especially when operating in challenging geographic locations such as Afghanistan.”

Lightened body armor, which the military has made progress on, would mean increased safety and reduced risk for soldiers. That is why I have championed legislation to reduce the weight of body armor while maintaining adequate levels of protection for our military. Over the past several years I have included several provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act (or NDAA, a yearly bill that sets policy and funding for the armed services) to ensure the military services continue making important advances in personal protective equipment. In Fiscal Year 2018, I required the Army and the Marine Corps to create a holistic strategy for providing the advanced body armor and helmets for all servicemembers – including the increasing number of women in the ranks. The same legislation set a goal of reducing the weight of all body armor by 20 percent over the next five years – twice the weight of the services’ original goal of 10 percent.

Most recently I worked to increase Army funding for research and development for advanced materials aimed at reducing the weight and increasing the ballistic protection of body armor and helmets. The R&D efforts this $10 million in funding helped support this fiscal year will take place, in part, in Massachusetts at one of the Army’s premier research installations – Natick Soldier Systems Center.

There is still much work to be done and I believe there are a number of ways the weight can be reduced on our soldiers’ body armor. We must look into developing armor using new, innovative materials, such as carbon nanotubes, liquid metal, or encasing the ceramic plates in industrial diamonds or other materials to prevent shattering.

I believe all options should be considered, and that sustained Congressional pressure will encourage the DoD to continue to invest the resources which are needed to achieve innovative breakthroughs. Never again can we allow a situation to occur where family members must ship body armor to their loved ones overseas because they cannot get the armor they need from their commanders, which happened on a wide scale during the early days of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

 

MILITARY SEXUAL ASSAULT

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, as many as 1 in 4 female veterans and 1 in 100 males report that they have experienced some form of Military Sexual Trauma. By the Pentagon’s own estimate, as few as 13.5% of sexual assaults are reported.

Working across the aisle with Republican Congressman Mike Turner of Ohio, I established the Military Sexual Assault Prevention Caucus in 2012 so that Congress has a dedicated and bipartisan group of members committed to overseeing the military’s efforts to deal with the unacceptable number of military sexual assaults. Our Caucus has become a go-to voice in Congress for issues of military sexual assault.

I have coauthored several pieces of legislation that address this important national security issue, including Defense STRONG, Coast Guard STRONG, the BE SAFE Act, the FAIR Military Act, the SUPPORT Act, the PROTECT Act, the BE HEARD Act, the PERSIST Against MST Act, and numerous provisions that have all been included in the annual defense bills.

However, instituting improved policies is just one step. In order to fully combat and prevent these crimes, we must work to improve the culture of the armed services.

A webpage on this site is dedicated to my work on the issue of military sexual assault. Click here to read more about this important national security matter and the measures being taken to combat it.

THE INVISIBLE WAR

I participated in a documentary film called The Invisible War, a stark and moving look at the alarming incidence of sexual assault in the United States military. This documentary, made by filmmakers Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2013. In 2014, the documentary won a Peabody Award and an Emmy Award.

The Invisible War has been instrumental in focusing a national spotlight on a shocking issue that affects as many as one in five returning female veterans.

I am grateful to the makers of the film who went to extreme lengths to interview not only dozens of survivors, but also those who are working to break the pattern. This is an important film dedicated to ensuring that the stories of the courageous men and women it features, and the countless others who share their reality, receive the attention they deserve so that we can bring an end to the heartbreaking violence and injustice depicted in this film.

I have hosted several viewings of the film at various locations around Massachusetts and in Washington, DC. Following a showing in Lowell, I joined a panel of military sexual assault survivors and advocates for a discussion with the audience on steps being taken in Congress and the armed forces. I will continue to host these viewings and panel discussions to help raise awareness of this important issue.

Learn more about The Invisible War here

IMPROVED HEALTH CARE AND BENEFITS FOR WOMEN

As a member of the Armed Services committee, I am very involved in oversight of the Military Health System. As more and more reserve servicemembers are called to serve on active duty, we must ensure they have timely access to quality health care. Timely access depends on the military’s ability to recruit and retain health care professionals, both on active duty and in the reserves.

Upon assuming office, I made women’s health in the military a major priority. Bipartisan legislation which I introduced to help aid the recruitment and retention of skilled health care professionals in the National Guard and Reserves became law as part of the FY 09 Defense Authorization Bill. The law raised the loan repayment ceiling for benefits available to those doctors, dentists, and other health care professionals currently in the Guard and Reserves, and to those considering such a career, so that they are competitive with similar repayment programs in both the private sector and active duty military. This legislation had a direct impact on the Third District, and a medical unit stationed in Methuen. Ensuring our reserve forces have an adequate number of doctors, nurses and mental health professionals to support increased deployments is critical to military readiness.

I have also focused on issues that impact the health of military mothers and their children. In 2015, I championed legislation that required the U.S. Army to develop a comprehensive policy regarding breastfeeding. The Army was the only branch of the military that did not have a standard policy to which breastfeeding mothers and their commanders could refer. My legislation became law in November 2015 as part of the FY15 National Defense Authorization Act—the same month that the Army issued its final comprehensive breastfeeding policy. You can read more about the policy here: https://tsongas.house.gov/press-releases/army-releases-new-updated-policy-on-breastfeeding/

After hearing about the difficulty some new parents have in securing childcare on military installations, I required the military services to report to Congress on how they are working to provide high-quality, affordable childcare to all those who serve. I believe that our ability to attract the Nation’s top talent into our military is, in part, dependent upon opening up the pathway to service for men and women with all types of family circumstances and I support benefits and programs that can help reduce the burdens service places on families.

WOMEN’S HEALTH

I introduced legislation to ensure that no gaps in health care service and coverage exist for our women serving in the Armed Forces. The Women’s Excellence of Care and Accessibility Review and Evaluation Act (WE CARE Act) directs a comprehensive review of women-specific health services and treatments for female servicemembers.

The rapidly growing number of women serving in the military and reports that women servicemembers do not have the same access to health care services as their civilian counterparts have highlighted the need for a more comprehensive assessment of women’s health care within the Department of Defense. The comprehensive review evaluated the availability, efficacy and accessibility of women specific medical care, including gynecological services, breast and cervical cancer services, and preventative and mental health services.  Amy Allina of the National Women’s Health Network said: “When Congress passed historic legislation to improve health access and quality, it’s time that we also take action to identify and remedy the health care gaps that undermine the health and well-being of women in the armed forces – whether that’s basic reproductive health services, a cancer screening test, or treatment for sexual assault. The comprehensive review of health services and treatment for women in the armed forces proposed by Congresswoman Tsongas is a first, and important, step toward that goal.”

The WE CARE Act passed into law in December 2011.  The review found that the Department of Defense has taken steps to better the quality of health care provided to military servicewomen, but that it must better address the health care needs of sexual assault survivors during deployment.  I am committed to making sure that the Department of Defense makes these necessary improvements.

For a comprehensive look at my efforts to support our veterans and their families, please click here

MILITARY SUICIDE PREVENTION

Military members and their families sacrifice so much in service to this country, and we have a responsibility to do everything we can to protect and serve them.

When it comes to addressing suicide and issues of mental health, information is critical. The most effective services can only be provided if we have the most complete data possible. With that goal in mind, I introduced the Department of Defense Suicide Tracking Act in March of 2014, which will provide much-needed tools to better track and assess suicides by servicemembers and their family members.

Specifically, the DOD Suicide Tracking Act addresses two major areas on which suicide data is not currently collected in a standard way– military families and members of the National Guard and Reserves. The bill requires the DOD to establish a standardized suicide tracking policy for the Guard and Reserves. It also requires the DOD to establish a process to track, retain and assess suicide data for military family members. This is a much-needed and overdue tool for the National Guard and Reserves, and an important step to track trends among family members across the armed forces. It is an opportunity to better understand the extent of suicides and suicide attempts so that prevention programs can be improved, and so that assistance can be provided.

More recently, I included a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act requiring a third party evaluation of the Department of Defense’s mental health care and suicide prevention efforts. The provision also explicitly required the National Guard to enter into a strategic partnership with the VA’s Integrated Service Networks to facilitate mental health referrals for National Guard members with service-connected disabilities.

In 2016 I worked with my colleague from Massachusetts, Representative Seth Moulton, to include a measure in that year’s defense bill that required the Secretary of Defense to work with the VA to develop a methodology that measures rates of suicide and attempted suicide to identify areas for prevention and treatment. The effort was in response to increasing rates of suicide among servicemembers within the same unit and sought to identify patterns to prevent at risk individuals from taking, or attempting to take, their own lives.

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