The Senate Armed Services Committee voted on June 12 to strike a proposal that would remove the authority to oversee the prosecution of military sexual assaults from the chain of command. The committee voted 17 to 9 in favor of an amendment sponsored by SASC chairman Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) over a proposal by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) In its place would be a provision that requires an independent review by the next higher level of the chain of command in cases where a commander decides not to prosecute a sexual assault allegation. However, Gillibrand found the provision “insufficient” as it will not adequately address victims’ fear of retaliation. She said a distinguishing factor of her bill was that it requests a set of military lawyers, who do not report to the chain of command, to make decisions independently. She argued that commanders are not creating a climate where victims believe they can report without “being blamed, being retaliated against, being marginalized.” Levin said the new provision addresses the problem of retaliation by making it a crime and establishing an expectation that commanders will be held accountable for creating that climate in which victims fear retaliation. (Gillibrand statement following SASC vote)
Anduril and General Atomics will develop their Collaborative Combat Aircraft for the Air Force, beating out Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, the service announced on April 24. But any of the non-selected companies can compete to actually manufacture the eventual design, the Air Force said.