House Speaker John Boehner has slammed the increase in reports of sex assaults in the military as a "national disgrace."
"It's outrageous," the Ohio Republican said in a press conference Thursday. "Frankly, it's a national disgrace."
The Pentagon estimates 26,000 sexual assaults took place in the military during 2012, a rise of 37 percent from 2010.
Boehner thanked House Armed Services Chairman Buck McKeon, R-Calif., and Rep. Michael Turner, R-Ohio, who have exposed the extent of the problem.
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The most likely means of changing policy toward sexual assault in the military is the Defense authorization bill McKeon’s committee is now considering,
reports The Hill.
Turner and Rep. Niki Tsongas, D-Mass., successfully had a provision inserted into the bill by the House Armed Services military personnel subcommittee Wednesday which would overturn the powers of commanders to invalidate guilty jury verdicts. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel had recommended that idea.
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