Bill > HCR36

This Concurrent Resolution urges the United States Congress to pass the I am Vanessa Guillén Act, a proposed law named in honor of a Fort Hood soldier whose murder highlighted systemic failures within the military's handling of sexual harassment, sexual assault, and missing persons cases. The resolution explains that the current military justice system has significant flaws, such as commanding officers making decisions about prosecuting sex-related offenses, investigations being conducted by untrained personnel, and limited options for reporting sexual harassment, which have left many service members without justice. The I am Vanessa Guillén Act aims to address these issues by transferring the authority to charge sex-related offenses to a chief prosecutor, mandating independent investigations by trained professionals, and creating a confidential reporting system for sexual harassment that can be escalated to a formal complaint. Additionally, the Act would require the Government Accountability Office, a non-partisan agency that audits federal spending, to review procedures for responding to missing service members. The resolution emphasizes that the brave individuals serving in the U.S. military deserve access to justice and that Congress should heed the calls for reform following Vanessa Guillén's tragic death.