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 Pentagon is considering ditching the Air Force’s plan to buy the E-7 Wedgetail as it looks to outsource the airborne target-tracking mission to space, defense officials indicated this week.