A bill that strengthens protections of sexual assault victims in the military unanimously passed the House on June 27. The bipartisan legislation known as H.R. 1864—co-sponsored by Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) and Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.)—requires military inspectors general to investigate allegations of retaliatory actions taken against personnel in response to reporting sexual assault-related crimes. “The bill helps ensure that while perpetrators are prosecuted, victims aren’t subject to retaliation,” said House Armed Services Committee Chairman Rep. Buck McKeon (R-Calif.) in a statement. “I can’t overstate what an important tool that is in changing a culture that has not been as vigilant against these crimes as it should have been.”
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.
