The Senate over the next month will tackle legislation dealing with sexual assault in the military, Majority Leader Harry Reid announced Monday.
“The Senate will also debate legislation to effectively prevent and punish sexual assault in the nation’s Armed Forces,” Reid said from the Senate floor.
Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand and Claire McCaskill currently have dueling proposals on how to increase safeguards for sexual-assault victims. Gillibrand’s proposal would remove the chain of command’s power to decide whether sexual-assault cases are prosecuted.
It’s a move McCaskill — and leaders at the Pentagon — have campaigned hard against.
Reid didn’t specify which bill senators would take on, or if both would be debated. He came out in support of Gillibrand’s proposal in November.
Sexual-assault legislation is just one of several issues the Nevada Democrat wants to cross off his list before the Senate has its next state work period, scheduled to start Feb. 17.
Members will also consider “a number of critical national security and judicial nominations.” The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approved John Roth’s nomination to be the next inspector general for the Homeland Security Department earlier this month.
Roth’s nomination still awaits a vote before the full Senate.