On November 15, the House approved, by voice vote, the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act (H.R. 2838). The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved the measure by voice vote on September 8; the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee approved a virtually identical version of the bill (S. 1665) on November 2 (see The Source, 11/4/11).
Sponsored by Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), the legislation would authorize $25.8 billion for FY2012 through FY2014 for Coast Guard operations and personnel. The measure would address sexual harassment and sexual violence at the Coast Guard Academy, among other provisions.
Specifically, the measure would require the Coast Guard Academy to institute the same sexual harassment and violence policies that exist at other military academies. The policy would increase awareness of sexual violence, including rape and sexual assault; establish procedures for reporting such incidents and disciplinary actions against those who commit such acts; and require all Academy personnel to be trained on the policy.
The superintendent of the Coast Guard Academy also would be required to assess the perceptions of Coast Guard personnel on the policy and whether the incidents of sexual harassment and sexual violence have declined.
The superintendent would be required to report annually to the commandant of the Coast Guard on the number of sexual assaults, rapes, and other sexual offenses involving cadets or other Academy personnel that have been reported to Academy officials during the program year and, of those reported cases, the number that have been substantiated; the policies, procedures, and processes implemented by the commandant and the leadership of the Academy in response to sexual harassment and sexual violence involving cadets or other Academy personnel during the program year; and a plan for the actions that are to be taken in the following Academy program year regarding prevention of and response to sexual harassment and sexual violence involving cadets or other Academy personnel.
