PRINTER'S NO. 1931

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

No.

359

Session of

2020

INTRODUCED BY MUTH, FARNESE, KEARNEY, COLLETT, FONTANA, COSTA,

HUGHES, BREWSTER, BROWNE, SANTARSIERO AND TARTAGLIONE,

SEPTEMBER 8, 2020

Annual Report on Sexual Assault in the Military (DOD REPORT)

revealed that an estimated 20,500 members of the United States

Armed Forces, comprised of 13,000 women and 7,500 men, were

victims of military sexual assault in 2018, with 7,825 cases

reported, which is a 3% increase over 2017; and

WHEREAS, On average, according to the same 2019 report, only

one out of every three military sexual assault survivors come

forward to report the assault; and

WHEREAS, Shame and stigma create a barrier to reporting

military sexual assault; and

with 1 in 12 who report sexual harassment experiencing sexual

assault; and

WHEREAS, According to statistics cited in the DOD report,

since 2004 the United States Armed Forces has received 50,071

reports of sexual assault from male and female servicemembers

for incidents that occurred during military service; and

WHEREAS, Military sexual assault survivors face many of the

same reasons for deciding not to report sexual assault as

civilian sexual assault survivors, including embarrassment, fear

and shame and the challenge of separating professional and

they fear retaliation and confidentially when reported to

command; and

WHEREAS, According to the DOD report, 73% of the women and

44% of the men who experienced sexual assault in the past year

did not report it because they wanted to forget about the event

and move on; and

WHEREAS, In addition, according to the DOD report, 61% of

women and 41% of men did not want more people to know about

their sexual assault; and

WHEREAS, The unique pressures of military life cause

for meaningful change to provide healing to those affected by

military sexual trauma through adequate medical and mental

health services; and

WHEREAS, By highlighting this epidemic, Pennsylvania

policymakers can learn the failures from the United States

Department of Defense's examination of military culture and

military justice to bring about improved educational and

preventative initiatives at a State level; and

WHEREAS, In addition, the United States Department of Defense

fails to take seriously the need to investigate and prosecute

RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the month of November

2020 as "Military Sexual Assault Survivors Month" in

Pennsylvania; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Senate honor the strength, resolve and

perseverance of military sexual assault survivors and work

urgently to end sexual violence in the United States Armed

Forces.