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.”
Unit commanders are being told to separate service members who can’t shave their cheeks and chin for medical reasons for more than a year, according to new guidance from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
