Rep Jaime Herrera Beutler: Bill would change military for better

Congressman Jamie Herrera Beutler (R-WA) writes:

Our nation’s military is the most respected in the world, yet the serious issue of sexual assault within our military ranks persists. We witnessed a troubling reminder of this problem just recently when Maj. Gen. Gary Patton – the director of the Defense Department Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office – stepped down in shame after it was revealed he had intimidated potential whistleblowers and tried to silence witnesses in a military investigation. In other words, the person supposed to lead the charge to find justice and shine light on military sexual assaults was obscuring facts and thwarting transparency.
[…]
[T]he Military Justice Improvement Act, has so far earned a broad range of support — from Democratic elected officials such as Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., to Republican Sens. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Ted Cruz, R-Texas. Importantly, this bill maintains the authority of commanding officers to address other serious crimes unique to the military, such as disobeying orders and going absent Without leave.

Our military members have taken an oath to protect us, and I take my oath of office just as seriously. I believe part of that oath means doing my best to protect them. It’s simply not an option to accept the status quo. We owe it to the brave patriots who defend our freedom to show some courage of our own by standing up to the critics, putting our shoulders to the wheel and doing whatever it takes to pass this necessary reform that will ultimately make our nation safer.

Read his full op-ed.