By Billy House
Media General News Service
Media General News Service
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WASHINGTON – Sexual assaults against women contractors in war zones would be required to be reported by their contracting firms, under language added to a broad defense bill today.
The language, which also requires contractors to provide assistance for victims of sexual assault, was approved by the Senate Armed Services Committee
The move comes after Florida’s Democratic senator, Bill Nelson, last month held a hearing that revealed 26 female contractors had brought sexual assault complaints but none of the cases had been prosecuted by the Defense or Justice departments.
Testimony from two of the women showed such complaints routinely were ignored.
Nelson has said he was drawn into the issue Tampa woman who was one of those victims - and who has seen no law enforcement action in the 30 months since reporting she was raped in Iraq.
“The decision of my colleagues on the Armed Services Committee to support this legislation is why these women came forward and testified,” said Nelson. “They seek justice and are trying to help others who might be sexually assaulted in a war zone.”
The language sponsored by Nelson was put into the National Defense Authorization Act, which is an overall blueprint for defense spending and policy.
The legislation now goes to the full Senate for a vote later this year.
-- BIlly House
The language, which also requires contractors to provide assistance for victims of sexual assault, was approved by the Senate Armed Services Committee
The move comes after Florida’s Democratic senator, Bill Nelson, last month held a hearing that revealed 26 female contractors had brought sexual assault complaints but none of the cases had been prosecuted by the Defense or Justice departments.
Testimony from two of the women showed such complaints routinely were ignored.
Nelson has said he was drawn into the issue Tampa woman who was one of those victims - and who has seen no law enforcement action in the 30 months since reporting she was raped in Iraq.
“The decision of my colleagues on the Armed Services Committee to support this legislation is why these women came forward and testified,” said Nelson. “They seek justice and are trying to help others who might be sexually assaulted in a war zone.”
The language sponsored by Nelson was put into the National Defense Authorization Act, which is an overall blueprint for defense spending and policy.
The legislation now goes to the full Senate for a vote later this year.
-- BIlly House