HI SCR63

Encourages female members of the United States Senate to reform military investigatory and prosecutorial systems governing sexual assault cases.

Expresses concern about prevalence of sexual assault in the military, citing Pentagon data showing soldiers were 15 times more likely to be raped by a comrade than killed by an enemy, with between 20-48% of female veterans experiencing military sexual assault.

Highlights systemic problems including commanders' sole decision-making power over prosecution, 62% of victims reporting retaliation after reporting, and inconsistent sentencing across military branches, with only 302 of 26,000 documented incidents prosecuted in 2012.

Supports the bipartisan Military Justice Improvement Act introduced by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand that would transfer prosecution authority over serious crimes from military commanders to non-biased, professionally trained military prosecutors.

Urges the Department of Defense to cooperate with Senator Gillibrand's request for internal reports on sexual assaults and rapes at major military bases and transmits copies to identified female U.S. Senators, Hawaii's congressional delegation, and the Governor.