Congressman Brown: DOD Inaction On Military Justice Reform Is Appalling

Press Release

Congressman Anthony G. Brown (MD-04) released the following statement regarding the Department of Defense's narrow approach to reforming the nation's military justice system:

"Our military justice system isn't meeting our higher values of fairness and equal justice for our servicemembers. That's true for survivors of sexual assault and for servicemembers of color. Instead of acting decisively to fix this problem, the Department has continued to delay action and refused to address the full scope of these serious issues.

"It's unacceptable that despite ordering an Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault in the Military, the Department has thus far refused to adopt its full recommendations. There are real consequences when our military justice system fails to protect victims of domestic abuse, child abuse and hate crimes. Lives are shattered and forever changed when this system fails to protect servicemembers like SPC Vanessa Guillén.

"Throughout our history, when the Department of Defense has failed to act, it has always been Congress that ensured justice, equity, fairness and opportunity for those who serve. We created the UCMJ in 1953. We have come back time and time again, to improve that process to give the accused rights, to protect victims and to ensure the commanders have tools to maintain good order and discipline. The issues of sexual assault and clear racial bias call on us to act once again to create the military justice system our servicemembers deserve."

During a Subcommittee on Military Personnel hearing on the Findings and Recommendations of the Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault in the Military, Congressman Brown urged DOD leadership to take action on comprehensive military justice reform to address the glaring under-prosecution of sexual assault in our military and over-prosecution of Black and brown servicemembers.

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