Military & Veterans' Affairs
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More on Military & Veterans' Affairs
September 16, 2020
Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD) today joined Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA), Chair of the House Armed Services Military Personnel Subcommittee, and Congressman Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), along with co-leads Reps. John Carter (R-TX), Veronica Escobar (D-TX), Pete Olson (R-TX), Gilbert R. Cisneros, Jr. (D-TX), Troy Balderson (R-OH), Jason Crow (D-CO), and Will Hurd (R-TX), and 93 additional co-sponsors, in introducing the I am Vanessa Guillén Act. This bill is in honor of the late SPC Vanessa Guillén and the many survivors of military sexual violence who have bravely come forward in the wake of her disappearance and brutal murder. The legislation responds to these resounding calls for change by offering provisions that would revolutionize the military’s response to missing servicemembers and reports of sexual harassment and sexual assault by making sexual harassment a crime within the Uniform Code of Military Justice and moving prosecution decisions of sexual assault and sexual harassment cases out of the chain of command. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. Senate today. This morning, following a meeting with the Guillén family, Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced a commitment to hold a House floor vote on the I am Vanessa Guillén Act. President Trump previously announced his support for the bill during a White House meeting with the Guillén family.
September 3, 2020
Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, Rep. Stephen F. Lynch, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, and Rep. Jamie Raskin, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, issued the following statement demanding the Department of Defense (DOD) provide information and documents in response to their June 15, 2020, request for information about how DOD is working to address racial disparities in the U.S. Military Justice System:
September 2, 2020
Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen joined by Senator Ben Cardin and Representatives Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John P. Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Andy Harris, M.D., Anthony G. Brown, Jamie Raskin, and David Trone urged House and Senate Armed Services Committee leaders to include a provision within the final defense authorization bill to require the Department of Defense (DOD) to closely examine recently proposed changes to military medical treatment facilities (MTFs). The members note in their letter that these changes could have serious impacts on the thousands of Marylanders who receive care at these facilities. As the coronavirus continues to impact communities across our state and put an increased strain on our healthcare system, it is crucial to ensure Marylanders’ access to care.
August 5, 2020
Press Release
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) today joined U.S. Representatives Cheri Bustos (IL-17), Max Rose (NY-11) and Deb Haaland (NM-01) and more than 30 lawmakers in urging the Trump Administration to extend the activations of men and women in the National Guard for the entire duration of the declared disasters and emergencies so they can continue to assist with the nation’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic uninterrupted. The letter demands the Administration explain the change in the federal cost-share of National Guard deployments which will force cash-strapped states to cover a quarter of the cost, resulting in states being burdened with millions in unforeseen expenses. The lawmakers also raised concerns about why Florida and Texas are the only states exempt from the new cost-share agreements.
July 30, 2020
Press Release
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) joined House Armed Services Committee Vice Chair and 30-year Army veteran Congressman Anthony Brown (MD-04), Subcommittee on Military Personnel Chair Congresswoman Jackie Speier (CA-14), Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) and 30 House Members in writing to Department of Defense Secretary Mark Esper to demand he lift the effective ban on sovereign Native Nations and LGBTQ Pride Flags on military installations. The members argue the exclusion of these flags undermines diversity and inclusion efforts. Congressman Ted Lieu (CA-33), Congressman Reuben Gallego (AZ-07), Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) and Congresswoman Deb Haaland (NM-01) also served as co-leads for this effort.
July 21, 2020
Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) on Monday voted for the bipartisan Veteran Treatment Court Act of 2019, of which he is an original cosponsor. The legislation unanimously passed the U.S. House of Representatives and is now heading to the President’s desk to be signed into law. The legislation establishes the Veteran Treatment Court Program in the Office of Justice Programs, providing coordinated technical assistance to veteran advocates and local officials to help them stand up and expand treatment court programs.
June 19, 2020
Press Release
(WASHINGTON, DC) – Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-8) joined Reps. Conor Lamb (PA-17) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1) in sending a letter to Senate and House leadership advocating for the needs of our nation's veterans, transitioning service members, and their families in the next COVID-19 legislative response package.
May 26, 2020
Press Release
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Congressmen Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and Don Beyer (D-VA) and Members of Congress representing the National Capital Region today wrote to the Secretaries of Defense and the Interior to state their strong opposition to President Trump’s plans to hold a second military parade in Washington D.C. on July 4th. Despite public health and social distancing precautions in the nation’s capital, which has seen one of the worst COVID-19 outbreaks in the country, the Trump Administration is reportedly “continuing to plan” the event.
May 22, 2020
Press Release
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD) joined Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Cory Gardner (R-CO), Representatives Jason Crow (D-CO) and Doug Lamborn (R-CO), and a bipartisan group of 125 Members of Congress in sending a letter to President Donald Trump, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Peter Gaynor calling on the administration to ensure National Guard personnel who are serving on the front lines of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) response efforts across the nation receive the federal benefits they have earned.
May 21, 2020
Press Release
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) today joined Reps. Cheri Bustos (IL-17), Max Rose (NY-11) and Deb Haaland (NM-01) and more than 70 bipartisan lawmakers in urging the Department of Defense (DOD) to extend the activations of men and women in the National Guard for the duration of the President’s emergency and disaster declarations so they can continue to assist with the nation’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Current activations are set to expire on June 24, 2020.