Posted on Jun 1, 2023
Wisconsin legislators consider bills on National Guard sex assaults
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"Lawmakers are considering a package of legislation that would tighten prohibitions on sexual assault within the Wisconsin National Guard after a scathing federal report found commanders had for years been flouting federal requirements for handling complaints."
Wisconsin legislators consider bills on National Guard sex assaults
Posted from armytimes.com
Posted 11 mo ago
Responses: 2
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Sexual harassment and retaliation against complainants would be prohibited. The Guard would have to publish a policy online that ensures victims are treated with respect and dignity.
Commanders would have to submit annual reports to the governor and Legislature detailing the number of sexual assault and misconduct cases within the Wisconsin National Guard over the preceding year. They also would be required to build a database to track misconduct cases.
Ellis said in an email to The Associated Press that he has retired from the military and moved to Texas. He said that some of his fellow veterans from his unit still refuse to speak to him and he is trying to put the entire experience behind him. He said the new bills look like “well-meaning change” but “implementing will be the real test.”
The hearing on the bills lasted less than half an hour. The study committee’s chairman, Republican state Rep. Tony Kurtz, a former Army helicopter pilot, was the only one who testified and he spoke strictly about the bills’ content. He told a reporter after he finished his testimony that he doesn’t know if anyone can stop sexual misconduct in the military but the bills are a start.
Asked after the hearing if the military affairs committee would vote on the bills and send them on to the full Assembly, the panel’s chairperson, Republican Rep. Jimmy Boy Edming, replied by saying that he supports the bills.
“You should not have to go to work in the morning and worry about someone looking over your shoulder and accusing you of something you didn’t do,” Edming said. “But if there’s something going on, you bet. No man or woman should have to go to work and put up with (expletive) where they’re harassed in any shape or form.”
..."Sexual harassment and retaliation against complainants would be prohibited. The Guard would have to publish a policy online that ensures victims are treated with respect and dignity.
Commanders would have to submit annual reports to the governor and Legislature detailing the number of sexual assault and misconduct cases within the Wisconsin National Guard over the preceding year. They also would be required to build a database to track misconduct cases.
Ellis said in an email to The Associated Press that he has retired from the military and moved to Texas. He said that some of his fellow veterans from his unit still refuse to speak to him and he is trying to put the entire experience behind him. He said the new bills look like “well-meaning change” but “implementing will be the real test.”
The hearing on the bills lasted less than half an hour. The study committee’s chairman, Republican state Rep. Tony Kurtz, a former Army helicopter pilot, was the only one who testified and he spoke strictly about the bills’ content. He told a reporter after he finished his testimony that he doesn’t know if anyone can stop sexual misconduct in the military but the bills are a start.
Asked after the hearing if the military affairs committee would vote on the bills and send them on to the full Assembly, the panel’s chairperson, Republican Rep. Jimmy Boy Edming, replied by saying that he supports the bills.
“You should not have to go to work in the morning and worry about someone looking over your shoulder and accusing you of something you didn’t do,” Edming said. “But if there’s something going on, you bet. No man or woman should have to go to work and put up with (expletive) where they’re harassed in any shape or form.”
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