Senate votes to require sexual harassment prevention programs in military

The Senate voted Friday to pass an amendment requiring a report from the Department of Defense on sexual harassment in the military. 

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) introduced Amendment 3105, which would require the report in addition to the development of a comprehensive policy to prevent and respond to sexual harassment in the Armed Forces.

The amendment passed by unanimous consent as part of a managers’ package shortly before the Senate left for the weekend last Friday. The Senate is considering the National Defense Authorization Act, S. 3254, which funds the U.S. military and its operations. A vote on the motion to end debate on the bill is scheduled for shortly after 5:30 p.m. Monday.

Sens. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) co-sponsored the amendment.

Toomey said the amendment was important because more needs to be done to protect service members from sexual harassment in their workplace.

"I strongly support this amendment, which would help ensure our armed forces are protecting our service members from sexual harassment,” Toomey said in a statement Friday. “I have already introduced legislation to address sexual assault in Veterans Affairs facilities, and we must do more to ensure the safety and protection of our service members and veterans.”

Klobuchar’s amendment was one of several passed in the defense bill that addresses sexual harassment and assault in the military — something Department of Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has made a priority.

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