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FEDERALhearing transcript
High Impact

Congressional Hearing on Sexual Assault at Military Academies

Original title: [H.A.S.C. No 116-4] MILITARY SERVICE ACADEMIES' ACTION PLANS TO ADDRESS THE RESULTS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND VIOLENCE REPORT AT THE MILITARY SERVICE ACADEMIES

January 1, 2020

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The Frame

What this does

The hearing addresses a documented increase in sexual assault reports at U.S. military service academies, which directly impacts the safety, training environment, and institutional policies governing thousands of military students.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Military Academy Students

Students are the primary subjects of the sexual assault and harassment prevalence survey and the target of new institutional action plans.

Department of Defense

The Department is responsible for implementing the action plans and addressing the systemic issues identified in the report.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2020.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

The House held a hearing to address a report showing that sexual assault and harassment incidents at U.S. military academies have more than doubled over a four-year period. Lawmakers and military leaders discussed the findings and reviewed action plans intended to combat the rising trend of among cadets and midshipmen.

Key Facts

  • Reported incidents of unwanted sexual contact at military service academies increased from 327 to 747 over a four-year period.
  • The survey used to measure these incidents has been administered for over a decade using consistent, expert-approved methodology.
  • Student participation in the survey was 68%.
  • The hearing was held on February 13, 2019, by the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
  • The subcommittee reviewed action plans from the Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, and Military Academy.
  • The definition of 'unwanted sexual contact' in the report includes non-consensual touching of genitalia, breasts, or buttocks, as well as attempted or completed sexual intercourse and oral/anal penetration.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the report define as 'unwanted sexual contact'?
The report defines it as non-consensual sexual touching (genitalia, buttocks, breasts), attempted or completed sexual intercourse, and attempted or completed oral, anal, or object penetration.
How many military academies were involved in this report?
The hearing focused on the three primary service academies: the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Military Academy.

Why It Matters

The hearing addresses a documented increase in sexual assault reports at U.S. military service academies, which directly impacts the safety, training environment, and institutional policies governing thousands of military students.

News Coverage

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Sponsors

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Systemic Failure Recognition

The hearing marks a shift from viewing sexual assault as isolated incidents to acknowledging a systemic, worsening trend despite a decade of intervention efforts.

Connected Entities

organizationUnited States Naval AcademySubject of the hearing regarding sexual assault reportsMap →
organizationUnited States Military AcademySubject of the hearing regarding sexual assault reportsMap →
organizationProtect Our DefendersAdvocacy group represented by witness Col Don ChristensenMap →
organizationUnited States Air Force AcademySubject of the hearing regarding sexual assault reportsMap →
personJackie SpeierChairwoman of the Subcommittee on Military PersonnelMap →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance90
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy85
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment20
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz40
    Current news / social attention level

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