To: The United States Senate

Protect Survivors of Military Sexual Assault. To: Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson

Co-sponsor the Military Justice Improvement Act of 2013.

Only the U.S. Congress can amend the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

The U.S. Senate must act swiftly to move the decision to prosecute sexual assault in the military out of the chain of command.

According to estimates from the Department of Defense, 19,000 service men and women are sexually assaulted while serving in the United States Military every. But 86% of them never report their assault—too often because seeking justice threatens their safety, their job security, and their future.

It’s time to take action and ensure survivors of Military Sexual Assault are not invisible and receive the justice they deserve. Congress must amend the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and move the prosecution of Military Sexual Assault out of the chain of command.

Survivors should not suffer retribution for speaking up, and rape should never be an “occupational hazard.”

Only Congress can change the UCMJ to create a real, working system for prosecuting sexual predators in the military – and ultimately putting an end to Military Sexual Assault.

Why is this important?

The decision to prosecute should be moved out of the chain of command so that victims of sexual assault can feel safe reporting the crime and so there is justice and accountability. Our service men and women should not have to suffer in silence.