House passes Barr’s legislation to empower victims of military sexual assault

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WTVQ) – Monday, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3642, the Military Sexual Assault Victim Empowerment Act, also known as the Military SAVE Act, introduced by Congressman Andy Barr.

This legislation would give survivors of military sexual trauma (MST) the ability to seek treatment from a community health care provider of their choice and would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to identify deficiencies in its treatment process to improve its care for these survivors through a three-year pilot program.

“According to research at the VA’s National Screening Program, one in four women and one in one-hundred men have been victims of MST during their time serving in the military,” says Congressman Andy Barr. “The Military SAVE Act is needed legislation that will empower MST survivors to access the care that best meets their unique physical and psychological needs and will help the VA take the necessary actions to improve future care for all MST survivors. I would like to thank Chairman Roe for his support of this legislation and especially thank Kentucky Department of Veterans’ Affairs Deputy Commissioner Heather French-Henry for her long-standing advocacy and the women veterans in my district who courageously stepped forward to share their personal stories with me and, in the process, made a profound and positive difference for other veterans.”

This problem was first made personal to Congressman Barr in 2013 by a group of women in the Sixth Congressional District.

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Media Release from Congressman Andy Barr