SAN MATEO, CA - Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-San Francisco/San Mateo) released the following statement on the recent arrest of an alleged sex trafficker, Zhi Liu, in South San Francisco. The suspect and his wife, Wei Gou, who is still on the loose, are suspected of being part of a much larger international human trafficking ring which involved young Chinese women that were moved between Boston, New York, Sacramento, and San Mateo County:

“This bust sends a message to any trafficker who wants to bring victims to San Mateo County - human trafficking will not be tolerated in our community. As a result of law enforcement efforts, two young women have been freed from modern day slavery. Human trafficking is unfortunately all too common in our neighborhoods, often occurring right in front of our eyes. This case is a prime example as it allegedly took place in the communities of both South San Francisco and San Bruno. That is why it is critical that community members be on board this effort- if you see something suspicious, say something by contacting your local police department. Human traffickers don’t recognize city, county or state boundaries—they take their victims where business is most profitable and detection least likely.”

Each year, an estimated 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders and 100,000 to 300,000 domestic minors are forced into sexual slavery. Congresswoman Speier has worked closely with law enforcement to eliminate this epidemic, which has become the second most profitable crime after illegal arms trafficking. Speier launched a Zero Tolerance Initiative in San Mateo in 2011 and has held several anti-trafficking trainings for law enforcement agencies and hotel and airline workers.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-San Francisco/San Mateo) released the following statement on HR 1797, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act:

“This is the trifecta of a bad bill: it’s unsafe, unconstitutional, and unsupported by the medical professionals and experts of this country. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the very people who provide reproductive services to women, are strongly opposed to this legislation. This also happens to be National Small Business Week. And yet, we are taking up -- for the 11th time in the last 3 years -- a bill that limits a woman’s access to abortions. It’s also ironic to note that the Republicans are opposed to the Affordable Care Act because they somehow feel it gets between a physician and their patient. But, what are they doing in this very bill? They’re trying to tell us that the relationship between physicians and patients has to somehow be rejected because some male Republicans want to insert their opinions and their beliefs.”

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6/17/2013

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-San Francisco/San Mateo) announced that the Buffalo Soldiers in the National Parks Study Act (H.R. 520) has passed the House by voice vote. The bill commemorates the all-African-American regiments of the U.S. Army who protected our National Parks, including Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks, at the turn of the 20th Century.

“The Buffalo Soldiers were true pioneers who braved the Western frontier as well as the scourge of racism as they fought for and served our country. The legacy these regiments left us--in California, and throughout the United States--is an important and often overlooked chapter in our post-Civil War history. Their contributions deserve the fullest recognition and need to be incorporated into the educational programming at our National Parks.”

The Buffalo Soldiers were garrisoned at the San Francisco Presidio during the late 19th and early 20th Centuries under the command of Colonel Charles Young, an accomplished graduate of West Point who was the highest ranking African-American military officer of his time. Among the duties assigned to the Buffalo Soldiers after their tours of duty was protecting Yosemite and Sequoia prior to the establishment of the National Park System.

To get to the parks, the soldiers left the Presidio in spring and headed south along El Camino Real through San Mateo County. It was a thirteen day trip covering 280 miles from San Francisco to Yosemite. The trek to Sequoia spanned 320 miles and took 16 days. The Native Americans they encountered nicknamed them “buffalo” soldiers in reaction to their dark skin and curly hair. The moniker was bestowed as a badge of honor to the troops, connoting bravery and a fierce fighting spirit.

The Buffalo Soldiers’ story has more recently been memorialized in Ken Burns’ documentary The National Parks: America’s Best Idea. Today, in addition to efforts by the National Park Service to document their work, numerous veterans associations and local groups around the country continue to pay tribute to the Buffalo Soldiers and their role in American history.
The Buffalo Soldiers in the National Parks Study Act calls for a study to:

• Evaluate the feasibility of establishing a national historic trail commemorating the route the Buffalo Soldiers traveled between their post at San Francisco’s Presidio and Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks.

• Identify properties to be considered for the National Register of Historic Places or National Historic Landmarks.

• Develop educational initiatives and a public awareness campaign about the contributions of the Buffalo Soldiers.
  

Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) have introduced companion legislation in the U.S. Senate.

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Politico
By Darren Samuelsohn and Anna Palmer

June 14, 2013

A House leadership aide said that Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has been working the issue behind the scenes, meeting several times with lawmakers leading on the issue, including Reps. Jackie Speier (Calif.), Susan Davis (Calif.) and Adam Smith (Wash.) among others to encourage their efforts to address the issue.

Pelosi has also been coordinating with Rep. Donna Edwards (Md.), chair of the Democratic Women’s Working Group, to organize women members to go down to the floor to speak during the rule on NDAA Wednesday to make their voices heard on the severity of sexual assaults in the military and demand a strong legislative solution.

Across the Capitol, Speier is running out of options in her mirror bid to bring in new legal prosecutors outside the Pentagon’s chain of command when dealing with sexual assaults. House Republicans ruled late Wednesday that her amendment, which had support of 130-plus cosponsors, couldn’t be debated on the floor. But a handful of other less aggressive options are on the agenda for votes Thursday when the House considers its version of the Defense authorization bill.

Speier has been working the issue for the past three years and is among the most vocal proponent of taking the violations out of the military chain of command.

“We have to have the debate,” Speier said. “Our fix is to leave it in the military chain of command. Other industrialized countries have recognized that’s not the way to do it.”

The California Democrat said there are 132 co-sponsors for her amendment, more than any others, but since her amendment was voted out of order her path forward is unclear.

“Maybe I should blame myself for not being a bigger thorn in their side, I don’t know,” Speier said Wednesday.

A number of other sexual assault amendments will be debated, including a measure by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) that would require posting information relating to sexual assault prevention and response resources. Rep. Lois Frankel (D-Fla.) is also pushing a provision that would make it a new offense for an officer to abuse their position in the chain of command of a subordinate to rape or sexually assault that person, and Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) is sponsoring an amendment that would require service education to include sexual assault prevention in its ethics curriculum.

Language pushed by Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) and Niki Tsongas (D-Mass.) appears to have a good shot at making it into law. The bi-partisan duo’s bill — already inserted into the House’s Defense bill during the committee stage — would not allow military officials to be able to change or dismiss court-martial convictions for sexual assault. It also requires service members found guilty of sexual assault or other sex-related offenses to receive punishment, including at a minimum, dismissal or dishonorable discharge.

“What we have in this bill is the best answer for addressing the issue of eliminating bias from commanders and restricting those in the chain of command from affecting the outcome of sexual assault cases,” Turner said. “We want vigorous prosecution. We want to change the culture — instead of victims feeling insecure, perpetrators feel insecure.”

Udall said in an interview he came into the markup “leaning toward supporting Sen. GIllibrand, but I wanted to hear people who I respect discuss why they thought the chairman’s amendment made sense.”

“I listened carefully and made my mind up” just before the final vote, he said, adding, “That was one of the most thoughtful and substantive discussions I’ve ever experienced in the Senate.”

Udall said he welcomed Levin’s alternative approach that will still keep commanding officers in the mix. “I just think Sen. Gillibrand approach has the potential to move us more quickly to the goals we want to meet,” he said.

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), who isn’t on the Armed Services Committee but backs Gillibrand’s bill, said she may have more luck before the full Senate.

“I know her as a person not to give up,” Grassley said. “We’re going to face this and I’m going to help her.”

Asked why she’s faced so much resistance, the Iowa Republican replied, “It’s this simple. Around Congress, the Pentagon has got great power and that’s about it. I’ve been working to straighten things out in the Pentagon for 30 years so I know what it is. There’s great respect for people who have stars on their shoulders and they don’t like it.”

A senior Senate GOP aide said Gillibrand willlikely find more friendly terrain as she pushes her amendment before the entire chamber. “Things can still change, absolutely,” the aide said.

Gillibrand, meantime, said she’s going to work toward winning a simple Senate majority. “I think it has a chance of passing,” she told reporters. “I think if we keep working hard to get the votes we need, we could get to 51.”

Senate women split

While the Senate’s record number of women are all pushing to address sexual assault issues, Gillibrand hasn’t won over all of them.

Perhaps the biggest splinter came with Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), a former county prosecutor who called the debate over the chain of command a distraction from the real issues.

“I honestly do not believe that the chain of command at the disposition phase … is our main problem,” she said. “Our main problem is the military doesn’t even know how many rapes and sodomies they have. They have no idea.”

McCaskill said the Pentagon doesn’t keep accurate data differentiating between different categories of unwanted sexual contact. And it lacks the resources to conduct thorough investigations and needs a new database to track sex offenders.

“What a better place to be a roving predator than a military that moves you all the time, from country to country to base to base,” she said. “If we don’t get a handle on tracking these predators in a more aggressive way, we’ll never accomplish this mission.”

While praising Gillibrand’s leadership, McCaskill said the two Democrats have “an honest disagreement on how best to accomplish our shared goal of putting predators in prison and supporting victims during the most difficult moments of their lives.”

She also praised Levin’s approach, which sends all decisions not to prosecute a sexual assault case to the next commander up in the chain and gives each branch’s civilian service secretary the final say if a military lawyer recommends a case to be prosecuted but the commander disagrees.

“Frankly that goes further than I’ve dreamt we’d be able to go,” she said.

Republican Sens. Kelly Ayotte (N.H.) and Deb Fisher (Neb.) also sided with Levin against Gillibrand’s chain-of-command bill.

Gillibrand’s bill had no shot at winning defense hawks. But it’s notable that Levin won over every other senator on his panel, including ranking member Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and several others who have strong connections with the Defense Department.


Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) recalled the military’s experiences dealing with racial tension during Vietnam.

“We didn’t solve the problem by taking away the responsibility from the commanding officers,” he said. “What we did was place additional responsibilities and embarked on a very, very vigorous program of indoctrination, of instruction, of explaining to the men and women of the military what was acceptable and what was not. And those who violated thoseregulations concerning the practice of racism were punished with the utmostseverity and rapidity.”

Of Levin’s alternative, McCain added, “I think we’ve come up with a legislative proposal that should be extremely effective.”

South Carolina GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham said Levin’s approach would get results through the addition of language bumping assault cases to the secretary of the service if there’s a conflict between the lawyer and unit commander.

“I can’t think of a more chilling statement to make and empowering a lawyer more than having the commander’s decision reviewed by the secretary of the service in question. That’s a huge dramatic step in the right direction that stays within the chain of command,” he said.

But Levin’s supporters signaled they have only so much patience. Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) said he would vote with the Michigan Democrat but noted it was a “tough and close call.”

“I think this is a very comprehensive and far reaching and strong proposal. But if it doesn’t work, if we don’t see an improvement, if we don’t see higher levels of reporting and a changing of culture, then I think this committee is going to have very little option but to change fundamentally the way these matters are handled,” King said. “I see this as a last chance for the chain of command to get it right.”

Leadership hanging back

Reid and his counterpart in the House, Speaker John Boehner, both reacted with outrage as the increased number of military sexual assaults was publicly released.

“The situation of sexual exploitation in the armed services is beyond the pale,” Reid told reporters earlier this month.

Boehner called it a “national disgrace.”

Since then, though, neither has taken a lead role in pushing specific legislation that would create a new system for dealing with the assaults. Both have publicly signaled they will let the legislative process unfold without picking favorites.

“Sen. Reid believes very strongly that this is a crisis and it must be addressed aggressively and promptly,” Reid spokesman Adam Jentleson said in an email Wednesday to POLITICO. “The Defense authorization bill will include a number of important steps, and it will offer an opportunity for a full debate on Senator Gillibrand’s bill, along with other proposals.”

Click here to read the original article.

The Raw Story
By Kay Steiger

June 14, 2013

Master Sgt. Ronald E. Bohlayer was charged this week with raping a 23-year-old Washington, D.C. woman last July in the Marine Barracks just a few blocks from the U.S. Capitol, a move that his attorney claims is due to the increased “publicity” given to military sexual assaults recently.

“In my head, I thought, these are people who are supposed to be protecting me,” Karalen Morthole told NBC’s Michael Isikoff in an interview broadcast on Friday. “I thought that the Marine Barracks was a place where I would be protected from the streets outside.”

Morthole told NBC News that she had been out at the Ugly Mug, a bar in D.C.’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, following a July 3 Nationals baseball game. There she met up with a number of Marines, one of whom invited her back to the Barracks when the bar closed. She said that Bohlayer, a 21-year Marine Corps veteran who was awarded the Bronze Star in Afghanistan in 2010, began forcing himself on her, “pinning” her against the wall while repeating, “I’m going to (blank) you.”

After the rape, Morthole said Bohlayer tried accompany her to her house in a cab, but when she refused, “he got within six inches of my face and started screaming obscenities at me, which prompted the guard I was standing next to to hold up his arm and say, ‘Stand down.’”

Morthole said she went to a local hospital about a week after the incident then later reported the assault to the Washington, D.C. police. After testifying before a civilian grand jury, a prosecutor told her that her case “amounted to a he-said-she-said” case and would not go forward.

But because the assault occurred on a military installation and was alledgedly committed by an active duty service member, it was also investigated by Bohlayer’s chain of command under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

“After hearing the testimony of Ms. Morthole and all the relevant witnesses, the investigating officer found that the allegations of sexual assault and rape were baseless,” Bohlayer attorney, Maj. Joseph Grimm, told NBC News. “The Investigating Officer subsequently recommended that the sexual assault and rape charges be dismissed.” However, the investigating officer had recommended that lesser charges be brought against Bohlayer.

But this week Maj. Gen. James A. Kessler overrode the investigating officer’s conclusion and decided that Bohlayer should be court marshaled for charges of rape, indecent exposure and disorderly conduct. Grimm alleges the decision to carry through with the charges may have been influenced by “wide publicity about sexual assaults in the military.”

Congress agreed to add several reforms to a defense spending authorization bill this week, including stripping military commanders of the ability to unilaterally courts marshall convictions and eliminate the five year statute of limitations on charges of sexual assault and sexual assault of a child.

However, many victims’ advocates were disappointed that Armed Services Chair Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) decided not to add an amendement sponsored by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) to the bill that would have taken the responsibility of deciding whether to pursue a sexual assault case out of the chain of command. Advocates of the measure say it would help victims to come forward with their assaults because of a widespread fear of retaliation.

Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-WI) and Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA) re-submitted a motion on Friday that would allow victims to chose whether the Office of Chief Prosecutor decides to go to trial or whether the commander should proceed with the case. “We should not tolerate even a single instance of sexual assault injustice, let alone a growing caseload,” Speier said in a statement. “Congress has a responsibility to address this epidemic. The Congresswoman and I, along with our supporters, will continue to fight this battle on behalf of the well-being of our victims, and the brave men and women serving our country.” The measure was struck down by a vote of 225-194.

By the Pentagon’s own estimation, roughly 26,000 incidents of sexual assault or abuse occurred in 2012, but just over 3,000 have been reported. 

Click here to read the original article.

SAN MATEO, CA - Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-San Francisco/San Mateo) and House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) will point out the importance of American manufacturing jobs and products at the third annual Make It In America exhibit at the San Mateo County Fair. The exhibit is open on June 15 and 16, 2013. At joint press conference on Saturday, June 15, 2013 at 12:30 pm where they will make the case that strengthening manufacturing is essential to keep the American economy globally competitive.

A healthy portion of American manufacturing consists of food production. Casa Sanchez of Millbrae is a family-owned business making authentic Mexican foods, chips and salsa. Gimbal’s Fine Candy is a family owned company based in South San Francisco making allergen-free jelly beans, licorice and hard candy.

Speier stated, “We all have to eat, so we might as well support our local economy while we are doing it. I am thrilled to welcome Casa Sanchez and Gimbal’s back to the Make It In America exhibit. The families running these two companies have produced food and contributed to our area for generations.” 

Manufacturing accounts for 12.2 % of the U.S.’s GDP, valued at $1.8 trillion. Twelve million Americans, including 1.2 million Californians, are directly employed in manufacturing. Indirect employment increases that number to 17 million.

The exhibit at the San Mateo County Fair will be open Saturday, June 15 from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. and Sunday, June 16 from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Who:             
Congresswoman Jackie Speier
House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer
15 U.S. Manufacturing Companies

What/When: 
Tour of Exhibitors, Remarks, and Q&A
Saturday, June 15
Democratic Whip Hoyer and Congresswoman Speier tour starts at 12:30 p.m.
Remarks and Q&A after conclusion of the tour

Make It In America Exhibit
Saturday, June 15 and Sunday, June 16, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Where:          
San Mateo County Event Center
Expo Hall

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“I am grateful to Congresswoman Duckworth, a hero, for her leadership as well as her service to our country. The Congresswoman and I are fighting to preserve our military, not to bring it down. We have the greatest armed services in the world. But, sexual assault controversies and the failure to address them over the past 25 years threaten to weaken our military’s integrity. This is a matter of national security that no one should feel comfortable turning away from.

“As we have heard countless times, from emails, letters, news stories, and personal accounts, sexual assault victims exist in a world of fear, intimidation, and powerlessness. Their physical wounds are matched only by their emotional ones. This amendment gives them a choice. It gives them leverage. It respects the chain of command by using a prosecuting authority to ensure the quality of that chain of command.

“We should not tolerate even a single instance of sexual assault injustice, let alone a growing caseload. Congress has a responsibility to address this epidemic. The Congresswoman and I, along with our supporters, will continue to fight this battle on behalf of the well-being of our victims, and the brave men and women serving our country.”

Ultimately, the measure was struck down by a vote, 225-194, with one member voting present. All but two votes in opposition were Republican.

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The Hill
By Pete Kasperowicz

June 6,  2013

Members of the House on Thursday voted in favor of a rule that allows a marathon session of debate and votes on 172 amendments to the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

The House voted 238-189 in favor of the rule, after which members were to start considering changes to the bill, likely until late into the night. Only eight Democrats voted for the rule.

But Democrats made it clear during the rule debate that they are not satisfied with the rule on the issue of sexual assault in the military. Earlier this morning, the House Rules Committee approved a rule that does not allow a vote on a proposal to take decisions to prosecute criminal cases away from military commanders, or take sexual assault cases away from these commanders.

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"Because these and some other important issues amendments were not in the rule, I must reluctantly vote against it," Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) said. Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) added that not considering these amendments prevents "critical debate" on how to deal with rising sexual assaults in the Armed Forces.

Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.), who proposed language taking sexual abuse cases outside the military's chain of command, asked why the House cannot debate her language on the floor.

"What's wrong with taking up an amendment with over a quarter of the membership of this House on the floor in what is supposed to be an open debate on this issue?" she asked.

She was answered only indirectly, by Republicans who said the bill strengthens language on sexual assault, and that a handful of amendments on this issue will be considered.

"We have taken away from the commander the ability to set aside a conviction for sexual assault, and we've added mandatory minimums, so that if you commit a sexual assault, you are out of the military," Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) said. "If there is an inappropriate relationship between a trainee and a trainer, you're out of the military."

Turner added that he objects to proposals that would create a separate judicial system within the military to prosecute sexual abuse cases.

"The judicial system hasn't been the failure, the chain of command has been the failure," he said. "And we have addressed that by restricting the authority of the chain of command, by requiring decisions to be pushed up the chain of command."

Click here to read the original article.

June 12, 2013

SAN MATEO, CA - Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-San Francisco/San Mateo) and House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) will showcase the importance of American manufacturing jobs and products at the third annual Make It In America exhibit at the San Mateo County Fair. The exhibit is open on June 15 and 16, 2013. On Saturday, June 15, 2013 at 12:30 p.m., the Democratic Whip and the Congresswoman will take a tour of the exhibitors, then deliver remarks about strengthening manufacturing and keeping the American economy globally competitive, then will be available for questions from the press.

Two Bay Area companies are recycling plastic milk jugs and turning them into sustainable and safe toys and clothing. Green Toys of Mill Valley, California makes toy parts free of toxic additives in the East Bay and then assembles them in Belmont.

Speier stated, “The Make It In America exhibit is for all ages this year. Children will have a designated play zone stocked with fire trucks, school buses, dinner and sand play sets made by Green Toys. Innovation is serious business, but it can create fun products.”

A Lot To Say of Chino, California makes colorful t-shirts, scarves, store banners, wallpaper, bags, floor mats, pillows and shower curtains that are made from recycled plastic and are recyclable.

Manufacturing accounts for 12.2 % of the U.S.’s GDP, valued at $1.8 trillion. Twelve million Americans, including 1.2 million Californians, are directly employed in manufacturing. Indirect employment increases that number to 17 million.

The exhibit at the San Mateo County Fair will be open Saturday, June 15 from 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. and Sunday, June 16 from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Who:              
Congresswoman Jackie Speier
House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer
15 U.S. Manufacturing Companies

What/When: 
Tour of Exhibitors, Remarks, and Q&A
Saturday, June 15
Democratic Whip Hoyer and Congresswoman Speier tour starts at 12:30 p.m.
Remarks and Q&A after conclusion of the tour

Make It In America Exhibit
Saturday, June 15, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Sunday, June 16, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Where:          
San Mateo County Event Center
Expo Hall

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Jun 12, 2013

Female senators pushing legislation to curb sexual assaults in the armed forces must overcome opposition from top military officials and their own leadership to change the way cases are investigated and prosecuted.

The Democratic and Republican leaders of the Senate Armed Services Committee are joining Pentagon officials in rejecting a proposal to investigate sexual assault cases outside the military chain of command.
Enlarge image U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Susan Collins

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a Democrat from New York, left, and U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine, talk on the stairs before a Senate policy luncheon. Photographer: Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images
Enlarge image U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat from Minnesota, has proposed a measure to prevent convicted sex offenders from enlisting or being commissioned in the military. Photographer: Rafael Suanes/MCT via Getty Images
Enlarge image U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a Democrat from New York, speaks while U.S. military leaders testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee regarding sexual assaults in the military. Photographer: Win McNamee/Getty Images

While an Armed Services subcommittee approved that change in the handling of sexual-assault cases yesterday as part of a broader defense measure, the proposal is set to be defeated by the full panel as soon as today.

“My concern is a bit more in the full committee,” said Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer of California. “And then we’ll have a knock-down, drag-out fight on the Senate floor, I can tell you that.”

The proposal restricting commanders’ prosecution authority has emerged as the central issue in a debate sparked by the results of a Defense Department survey estimating 26,000 cases of sexual assaults last year, compared with 2,949 victims identified in criminal reports.

With a record 20 women serving in the Senate, a bipartisan group has joined together to push for changes, setting up a showdown with the male-dominated Pentagon.
Levin’s Opposition

The group is finding resistance even from some allies. Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, a Michigan Democrat who supports other changes, opposes an independent prosecutor in sexual assault cases.

“Only the chain of command can establish a zero-tolerance policy for sexual offenses,” he said at a June 4 panel hearing.

At that hearing, military officers including Army General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, criticized the proposal by senators led by Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand of New York. He said military discipline would be hurt if commanding officers didn’t handle the cases.

Gillibrand reacted sharply.

“Not every single commander necessarily wants women in the force,” she told the officers. “Not every single commander believes what a sexual assault is. Not every single commander can distinguish between a slap on the ass and a rape because they merge all of these crimes together.”

Whether Gillibrand and the other female senators can surmount the Pentagon’s opposition, women in both parties have little to lose by pressing this legislation, said Sean Kay, a professor of politics and government at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio.
Little ‘Downside’

“I don’t see how there’s a downside for them at all politically,” Kay said. “These well-informed experts who happen to be women are forcing the military to think differently about these issues.”

The question is how far Congress is willing to go.

The chain-of-command measure has the most pushback from the Pentagon. Senator Kelly Ayotte, a New Hampshire Republican, and Senator Patty Murray, a Washington Democrat, back proposals that would provide military lawyers throughout the legal process to alleged victims of sexual assault and criminalize sexual relationships between basic training instructors and students.

Minnesota Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar has offered a measure to prevent convicted sex offenders from enlisting or being commissioned in the military. With Republican Susan Collins of Maine, she proposes preventing military officials from dismissing a court-martial conviction for sexual assault.

Minimum Penalty

Some male lawmakers have joined in the effort. Senator Roy Blunt, a Missouri Republican, is co-sponsoring legislation with Collins and Senator Claire McCaskill, a Missouri Democrat, barring commanders from overturning court-martial convictions and requiring a minimum penalty of dishonorable discharge for those found guilty of sexual assault.

Blunt said he’s determined to see some change occur this year, although he can’t predict what law will emerge.

“Clearly the attitude at the top levels in the military needs to change in a way that gets them focused on addressing this problem,” Blunt said. “Business as usual isn’t good enough.”

Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a New Hampshire Democrat, acknowledged the Pentagon’s resistance could force the toughest proposals off the table.
‘Won’t Change’

“I think it probably makes it harder to get some of the changes done, but I think the effort to try to get them done won’t change,” she said.

Collins said she’s not so sure. She sees parallels with legislation overturning the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy banning openly gay personnel from serving. While the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was supportive, the chiefs of all the military services opposed the measure.

It passed in December 2010 and has become accepted, Collins said. The military is too resistant to change to make big legal and cultural policy changes on its own, she said.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that we need to have legislative changes,’ Collins said. ‘‘There have been legitimate issues that have been raised over which bill is the best approach, but we can’t just leave this up to the military. The military has shown, sadly, that it is incapable of solving this problem or even making significant process.”
Three Cases

The drive for legislation is fueled by the Pentagon sexual assault statistics and a series of scandals roiling the Defense Department. The military is pursuing three cases in which officers who worked in sexual-assault prevention programs were accused of wrongdoing that included assault, mistreatment of subordinates and inducing prostitution.

The debate has taken on a partisan edge in the past week.

At the June 4 panel hearing Senator Saxby Chambliss, a Georgia Republican, cited the “hormone level” among young recruits as a contributing factor in the surge in assaults.

Democrats pounced. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, looking to the 2014 congressional elections, said Chambliss’s remark shows that a “Republican war on women” continues, and vowed to push harder for measures preventing military sexual assaults.

That’s a slogan the Democrats used in 2012, when they gained a 55-seat Senate majority. Of the seven women on the Senate Armed Services committee, two Democrats -- Kay Hagan of North Carolina and Shaheen of New Hampshire -- are up for re-election in 2014.
‘National Disgrace’

House lawmakers say they want to take some action as well. House Speaker John Boehner, an Ohio Republican, called the increase in military sexual assaults a “national disgrace” and said he expects the House to take up changes to military law as part of debate on an annual defense bill.

Jackie Speier, a California Democrat who is leading efforts in the House, lashed out against the military’s top brass on June 9 on CBS’s “Face the Nation.”

“They‘re enablers because this has been a problem for 25 years and for 25 years they‘ve trotted up to Capitol Hill, they sat in committee hearings and they said all the right things, zero tolerance,’’ Speier said. ‘‘But then the scandals keep happening.’’ 

Click here to read the original article. 

SAN MATEO, CA - Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-San Francisco/San Mateo) and House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) will showcase the importance of American manufacturing jobs and products at the third annual Make It In America exhibit at the San Mateo County Fair. The exhibit is open on June 15 and 16, 2013. On Saturday, June 15, 2013 at 12:30 p.m., the Democratic Whip and the Congresswoman will take a tour of the exhibitors, then deliver remarks about strengthening manufacturing and keeping the American economy globally competitive, then will be available for questions from the press.

The Bay Area is a hotbed for innovation and technology. This year’s Make It In America exhibit will feature three outstanding examples: TechShop, Type-A-Machines and WhiteLeaf Computers.

Hoyer stated, “I’m happy to have the opportunity to again visit the San Francisco area, which is well known for its role in the high-tech community. I look forward to meeting with a number of businesses at the Fair and discussing their cutting-edge and innovative products.”

Speier stated, “The Democratic Whip and I will engage in an experiment. We will have a Type-A-Machines’s 3-D-printer take our images and create a 3” plastic bust of each of us.”

Type-A-Machines, based in San Francisco, was born at TechShop, a national organization that offers space, equipment and expertise to people who want to build cutting edge technology. Members have access to tools such as laser cutters, metal, wood and machine shops, plastic and electronics labs and design software.

WhiteLeaf Computers makes high performance desktop computers in Silicon Valley. The company is a strong proponent of in-sourcing technology products and it donates parts of its profits to charity.

Manufacturing accounts for 12.2 % of the U.S.’s GDP, valued at $1.8 trillion. Twelve million Americans, including 1.2 million Californians, are directly employed in manufacturing. Indirect employment increases that number to 17 million.

The exhibit at the San Mateo County Fair will be open Saturday, June 15 from 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. and Sunday, June 16 from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Who:             
Congresswoman Jackie Speier
House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer
15 U.S. Manufacturing Companies

What/When: 
Tour of Exhibitors, Remarks, and Q&A
Saturday, June 15
Democratic Whip Hoyer and Congresswoman Speier tour starts at 12:30 p.m.
Remarks and Q&A after conclusion of the tour

Make It In America Exhibit
Saturday, June 15, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Sunday, June 16, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Where:          
San Mateo County Event Center
Expo Hall

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SAN MATEO, CA - With the Oakland VA continuing to struggle with a massive backlog of 25,735 claims, Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-San Francisco/San Mateo) today announced that her office would have a “Veterans Fix-It” resource table at the Valor Games Far West competition at the College of San Mateo (CSM), Wednesday June 12, 2013 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The games, set for June 11-13 at various venues on the Peninsula, are the “Olympics” for veterans and active duty personnel with physical disabilities. The event at CSM will also feature a resource fair for all veterans.

Speier stated, “These athletes have already won medals defending our country. As competitors in the Valor Games, they will showcase their spirit, incredible determination and athletic abilities in Olympic style competitions. Their strength of purpose is remarkable.”

Speier’s “Veterans Fix-It” program is an ongoing effort to help veterans resolve such problem as obtaining VA benefits and finding employment. Last year the program enabled area veterans to receive over $3 million in benefits. The Congresswoman encourages all veterans to come to the Valor Games at CSM, not only to cheer on their fellow veterans, but to talk with an array of organizations dedicated to helping all veterans.
 
The competition on June 12 at CSM will feature the sport of power lifting. Also that morning, there will be interactive adapted sport demonstrations and a resource fair for veterans. Later that afternoon, the competition shifts to the world class throwing field on campus for shot put and discus throws.

June 13, the final day of competition, will be at Candlestick Park. The games open with a ceremony slated for 11a.m. on June 11 at the amphitheater in Leo J. Ryan Memorial Park in Foster City with an archery competition to follow.

The event provides lodging and meals at no charge to the participants. Qualifying athletes include veterans or active duty service members from any era. Their physical disabilities may fall into the following categories: amputation/limb loss; post-traumatic stress; spinal cord injuries; stroke; traumatic brain injuries; visual impairment and any disability rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Funding for the competition is being provided by the VA.

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June 9, 2013

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) on Sunday vowed to press her fight against military sexual assaults, saying a “culture change” is needed within the ranks to end the "crisis."

“What we have here is a crisis,” Gillibrand said on CBS’s “Face the Nation.” “This is a cultural problem from top to bottom.”

Gillibrand was joined by Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) who are both pushing for legislation to better protect military victims who come forward and to change the way such crimes are prosecuted by the Pentagon.

“Until you have transparency, accountability and objectivity where the decision-maker of whether you’re going to trial or not is an objective prosecutor and not a commander, you’re not going to have the type of reporting – and frankly, justice – that we need in the system,” Gillibrand told CBS’ Bob Schieffer.

The Defense Department estimates there were 26,000 cases of “unwanted sexual contact” in the military last year – an increase from 2011’s estimate of 19,000 cases. Seventy percent of the 3,400 reports submitted last year dealt with sexual assaults or rapes.

Currently, victims must file complaints up the chain of military command. Lawmakers say the process creates a conflict of interest and deters service members from reporting the violence.

“What victims tell us across the board is they are afraid to report [abuses] because of retaliation, they have seen other women being retaliated against or they thought they would be marginalized, their careers would be over or they would be blamed,” Gillibrand said.

Speier called commanders “enablers” for not cracking down on abuse.

“They're enablers because this has been a problem for 25 years,” Speier said. “And for 25 years, they've trotted up to Capitol Hill” and insisted there has been zero tolerance. “And it’s still happening.”

“Until there are more prosecutions and more convictions, this problem is not going to end,” she continued.

Last week, the Senate Armed Services Committee grilled the entire Joint Chiefs of Staff about the rising number of rapes and reports of retaliation against victims.

Click here to read the original article.

June 9, 2013

Rep. Jackie Speier and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand argued on Sunday for a dramatic overhaul for reporting and prosecuting sexual assaults in the military.

Appearing on CBS's "Face the Nation," the lawmakers called military sexual assaults a "crisis." While military officials have said all the right things and have expressed support for a "zero tolerance" policy in the past, the problem persists, Speier said.

Speier, a California Democrat, said that handling sexual assault incidents internally within the military has undermined justice. Those processing the sexual assault file are often "concerned about a promotion," or perhaps might even be at fault for a related incident, she said. As such, military personnel has found ways to avoid prosecution.

Gillibrand, a New York Democrat, said that short of an "objective prosecutor" handling sexual assault complaints, nothing will happen.

"This is a culture problem from top to bottom" in the military, Gillibrand said, and the military needs major reform to ensure that sexual assaults do not continue to "undermine the integrity" of the armed forces.

Click here to read the original article.