house Resolution No.51
Reps. Jones, Rogers, Sabo, Thanedar, Cavanagh, Peterson, Brenda Carter, Tyrone Carter, O'Neal, Aiyash, Tate, Breen, Whitsett, Manoogian, Kuppa, Hood, Sowerby and Coleman offered the following resolution:
Whereas, A recent report on sexual assaults released by the U.S. Department of Defense found that the number of sexual assault reports by service members increased from Fiscal Year 2018 to Fiscal Year 2019, from 6,053 incidents to 6,236 incidents. Women between the ages of 17 and 24 reported the largest increase in sexual assault; and
Whereas, Toxic and harassing command cultures set the stage for sexual violence. Gender-based misperceptions and systemic gender discrimination affect workplace camaraderie, creating an environment where harassment can flourish. Ineffective responses to sexual harassment and assault have resulted in fear of retaliation and underreporting of cases by victims; and
Whereas, Environments that support harassment and sexual assault lead to additional violent crimes, including murder, as was the case with deaths at Fort Hood in 2020; and
Whereas, The new Secretary of Defense has expressed a serious commitment to eliminating this persistent problem in the military. Members of the United States Armed Forces make tremendous personal sacrifice on behalf of our nation and it is vital that our government does everything it can to protect them from harassment and assault; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge the Congress of the United States and the United States Department of Defense to strengthen policies to prevent and respond to sexual assault and harassment in the military; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the United States Secretary of Defense, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the Michigan congressional delegation.