Reports of sexual assaults in the military have steadily gone up since 2006, according to Defense Department reports, including a 13% jump in 2018 and a 3% increase in 2019. The campaign to improve military prosecutions has been struggling for years, but it gained momentum when Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and other leaders began to publicly acknowledge this year that the military has failed to make progress in preventing sexual assaults and that changes were needed. вЂњBy moving the decision to prosecute a servicemember for rape, domestic violence, murder and other serious crimes out of the chain of command to an independent military prosecutor, we would finally address a gaping wound for sexual assault survivors and provide a pathway to justice,вЂќ she said. Jackie Speier, the head of the House Armed Services military personnel subcommittee, described it as a historic change вЂњthe likes of which we have not seen in over 70 years. She said the Pentagon was able to argue successfully against fully removing commanders from the cases. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., said the measure doesnвЂ™t go far enough. Spurred on by a growing number of sexual misconduct cases in the military, and buoyed by support from President Joe Biden and senior Pentagon leaders, the changes were included in a broader defense bill that passed the House late Tuesday and is headed to the Senate for almost certain approval.Д«ut several senators on Wednesday, led by Sen.

military handles sexual assault cases, by taking some authority out of the hands of commanders and instead using independent prosecutors. WASHINGTON (AP) - After years of debate, Congress is on track to change how the U.S.

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