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Read. Follow. Verify.Congressional Hearing on Sexual Assault at Military Academies
Record date · January 1, 2020
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What This Bill Does
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.
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 It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
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.
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.
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- 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
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News Coverage
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Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
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
Sources
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Analysis Score
0–100- Significance90How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy85Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment20Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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