Last Thursday, DoD released its FY 2020 sexual assault report and it showed the critical need for swift passage of the Military Justice Improvement and Increasing Prevention Act (MJIIPA) (S. 1520). Despite a world in which many bases were locked down and servicemembers were prevented from leaving their homes except for work and necessities, the number of reports still rose and the number of alleged perpetrators taken to court-martial was only 4%.  MJIIPA would remove the decision to prosecute serious crimes, such as sexual assault, out of a servicemember’s chain of command and give it to independently trained military prosecutors. It would also increase security measures at military installations to keep servicemembers safe and improve sexual assault and harassment training procedures. Read IAVA’sblog on the recent DoD sexual assault report HERE. 

The House passed 10 IAVA-backed bills this week aimed at reducing veteran homelessness, increasing support for Native veterans, increased security measures at VA, and so much more. The full list of House-passed legislation is:

• H.R. 2704 – Improving VA Accountability to Prevent Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Act of 2021
• H.R. 2788 – Equal Employment Counseling Modernization Act
• H.R. 2911 – VA Transparency and Trust Act of 2021
• H.R. 240 – Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Act
• H.R. 711 – West LA VA Campus Improvement Act of 2021, as amended
• H.R. 2167 – GI Bill National Emergency Extended Deadline Act, as amended
• H.R. 2878 – Native VetSuccess at Tribal Colleges and Universities Pilot Program Act, as amended
• H.R. 1510 – To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit to Congress a report on the use of cameras in the medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs, as amended
• H.R. 2494 – To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the Department the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration, and for other purposes 
• H.R. 2441 – Sgt. Ketchum Rural Veterans Mental Health Act

The University of Alabama is excited to invite you to participate in the national survey, “Assessing the Needs of Women Who Served in the U.S. Armed Forces.” Women are experiencing transition challenges differently than their male counterparts. Your experiences can be a very valuable part of this study and we want to hear from you. This 20-30-minute survey will be asking about your time in the armed forces, your needs, experiences, and preferences relating to your transition back to civilian life. All your answers are anonymous and will not be tied back to you in any way. Only summary level data will be reported. Click/copy the link or scan the QR code to take the survey: bit.ly/38y975y.

IAVA has kicked off the annual #GoSilent Memorial Day campaign to honor those who have lost their lives in military service, a decade-long tradition, IAVA continues to promote this annual moment of silence every Memorial Day. The organization calls on all Americans to join in the national moment of remembrance on May 31 at 3 pm local time and pledge to honor servicemembers who gave their lives. A #GoSilent social media toolkit for Memorial Day is available at: iava.org/go-silent/#resources. 

New Cosponsors for IAVA-Backed Legislation

IAVA gained six new cosponsors for MJIIPA (S. 1520). Thank you to Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Tom Carper (D-DE), and John Hoeven (R-ND) for standing up and ensuring balanced and impartial justice within our military ranks. 

We know that this time can be stressful and IAVA’s Quick Reaction Force (QRF) is here to help! This program provides 24/7 peer support, comprehensive care management, resource connections, and can help with accessing your VA benefits. To get connected to a Veteran Care Manager for immediate help anytime, day or night, please call 855-91RAPID (855-917-2743) or fill out our online form. Our services are remote, free, and confidential and QRF is here for all veterans, regardless of era, discharge status, or location. If you are a veteran or a veteran family member facing challenges or have questions, QRF is here to help you get back on your feet and meet your goals.

If you are currently experiencing a crisis please contact the Veterans Crisis Line at 1.800..273.8255, and press 1. Alternatively, use the Crisis Text Line by texting “RISING” to 7417