Legislation incorporates several Braley proposals to strengthen sexual assault protections, protect vets from home foreclosure; bill stops changes at Des Moines Air Guard facility
Washington, D.C. - The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that passed the US House of Representatives today included provisions authored by Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) to reduce sexual assault and domestic violence in the military and provide additional protections for veterans against foreclosure. The legislation would also block a proposed Air Force recommendation to eliminate over 700 jobs at the Des Moines-based 132nd Iowa Air National Guard Fighter Wing.
"These provisions make important changes that would reduce the incidence of sexual assault in the military, protect more veterans and their families from home foreclosure, and protect the Des Moines Air National Guard Fighter Wing from cuts," Braley said. "This is important to many Iowans in uniform and to many veterans, and I'm encouraged that they moved a step closer to implementation today. We've worked hard to get this done for our men and women in uniform and those who have served, and we'll keep working until the job's done."
In April 2011, Braley introduced the Holley Lynn James Act, a bill that would force the Department of Defense to make changes to reduce the incidence of sexual assault and domestic violence in the military. Several of the bill's provisions were included in a Defense bill that passed the House in December; this April, the Pentagon announced it was implementing several provisions from the Holley Lynn James Act. Today's bill includes a provision from the Holley Lynn James Act that ensures senior officers -- higher up the chain of command -- review any accusation of sexual assault.
Also included in the Defense bill passed today was an amendment introduced by Braley to expand veterans' mortgage foreclosure protections to spouses of veterans who were killed in action, and disabled veterans. In October, the House passed Braley's Protecting Veterans Homes Act to expand foreclosure protections for returning veterans.
Finally, the Defense bill also included language that would block the US Air Force from following through on their threat to eliminate over 700 jobs at the 132nd Iowa National Guard Fighter wing based at the Des Moines airport. For months, Braley has pressed Congressional leaders and the Pentagon to abandon their plans to downsize the fighter wing.
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