watch live or on your own schedule. federal focus on c-span.org, making it easy to keep tabs on what is happening in congress, the white house and the courts. >> now to london for prime minister's question time live

from the british house of commons. every wednesday while parliament is in session prime minister david cameron takes questions from the house of commons. prior to question time the house is wrapping up other business. live coverage on c-span2. >> justification -- before the proven scottish national party that the answers would be under way. respond these are not the answers about a pension. be aware of any pension on behalf of the party, the tension. >> i am pretty certain that any answers would be beyond favor

with the people of scotland so i am sure we will not be dealing much in the future. the people of scotland for the institute's will see they will want to hear from the scottish government what they answer. >> questions for the prime minister. >> mr. speaker. >> prime minister. >> meetings with ministers and others and in addition to my duties in this house i have further meetings later today. >> london is a 24/7 global city and the home of the western world. with a the economy growing and unemployment falling would you agree the efforts of the union to bring substance to a halt is nothing short of economic

pacifism? >> i absolutely agree with my right hon. friend. no justification for a strike. we need a modernized to line working for millions of wonders who worked with in everyday and 3% of transactions now involved it. does it make sense that fewer people in those offices but more people on the platforms and the station so i condemn this strike. the defense minister was asked to do so today, it was a matter for the union. i hope the right hon. gentleman will get up and condemn this strike. [shouting] >> mr. speaker, the ongoing problem of being family free, driven out of their homes, significant part of the country. as the prime minister knows many of those affected feel the

government's response has been slow and more could have been done. will the prime minister tell the house what is now being taken to assure areas that are affected have the necessary support they need. >> let me update the house on this serious situation. there have been cobra meetings on a daily basis across the board. let me give the latest figures, there are currently 328 properties flooded, 122,000 properties protected last night because of the flood prevention measures, 1.2 million protected since december, seven severe flood warnings across the coast in place, 69 flood warnings in place which means more flooding is expected and immediate action is required. the environment agency has 219 flood alerts in place. there has been a serious situation with so many people using their electricity, 60,000 homes have been reconnected

overnight but there are 8,000 homes, whatever is required whether it is dredging work on the rivers, whether it is support, and across the board, this will help families to get issues soared. >> the prime minister will know many of those do feel responses are too slow and less on their own and isolated. does he agree with finney they demand a comprehensive look in flood protection. and speed of this response. the prime minister promised the government would report on this response by january. can he tell us when it will be available? >> there have been repeated statements in this house, i can tell the house it will make a comprehensive statement tomorrow. let me ask directly the issue

about flooding. this government spent $2.4 billion over this four year period which is more than a 2.2 million pounds under the previous government. a further hundred million pounds will be made available to fund a central flood repair maintenance over the next year. this will cover 75 million plans for repairs, 10 million pounds for urgent work in somerset to deliver the action plans being prepared by local agencies and 15 million pounds per extra prevention. i make the point we are only able to make these decisions because we looked after the nation's finances. i can confirm that is new money that will protect more houses and help the country more with floods and will continue to do what is right. >> actually figures show the investment by the government has fallen over the period, not

risen. the reality is the scale of challenge we face from climate change and flood, we have comprehensive look at the investment required and i am glad the prime minister said it comes out tomorrow. another subject, mr. speaker. the prime minister said 2014, he was going to lead the way on the women equality. how is that going in the conservative party? >> back to the important issue of flooding. order. >> people getting very excited on both sides of the house. the question has been put, the answer must be heard. >> i am glad he is asking about constituencies election. returning to the issue of floods, the point about the

funding. if you look at the period 2010-2014 when this government was in office the funding was 2.4 million pounds. secondly this will be of interest for a number of constituencies, when it comes to funding, what also matches the government supports local authorities. let me tell you -- >> order! you are an incorrigible delinquent. >> prime minister -- many hon. members with flooded homes in their constituencies the way central government helps and let me say we will be paying local authorities for their costs above the threshold, and

extending the eligible -- however long this section takes the questions will be heard and the answers will be heard. order! the public has a right to expect. prime minister. >> claim to be concerned and won't listened to the answers. we are extending the eligible period until the end of march of 2014 recognizing the bad weather continues. i can say to colleagues in cornwall we will make sure they don't suffer from a unity of authority which i know they believe is very important. on the important issue of getting more women, yes, fantastically important for us because we will not represent or govern our country properly unless we have more women at every level in our public life and in our politics.

>> i am proud of the fact that as leader of the conservative party, the number of women and teens has gone 17-48 but we need to do much more. i want this to go further. we will proceed, more women in work and never before, cut tax cuts for 11 million women, pension being discriminated against women and putting women at the front of our international aid program. those are the actions we're taking. there is more to do and we have a good record of helping women in the economy. >> mr. speaker. i do have to say -- i do have to say -- i do have to say -- a picture is worth a thousand words. this is the prime minister -- >> order, having to interrupt again. members, calm yourself. it is only just after midday.

many hours of the day remain. don't destroy your systems by exploding. >> a picturetel thousand words. loaded the all male contests. he says, representing the whole country. i guess they didn't like women either so there we go. he said a third of his ministers would be women. he is nowhere near meeting the target. half of the women have resigned. get this, in his cabinet there are many men -- that is the picture. the conservative party has a problem with women. >> let me give him the figures. the full members of the cabinet who are conservative, 25%, a quarter of them are women. i want to see that.

and front bench ministers of the conservatives are around 20% of women, below what i want to achieve in 33%, we are making progress and we will make more progress. this party is proud of the fact the we had a woman prime minister. to prepare. to be fair to the labor party. >> order! order! order! you really are -- a thousand

times! prime minister's questions! prime minister! >> to be fair to the labor party they have had some interest leaders who are women but they have a habit of replacing them with totally ineffective men. >> order! >> mr. speaker. the mention lady thatcher. she won the general election. mr. speaker, i noticed -- in his place, very interesting article recently, we men are all killed the of unconscious lights to women. the prime minister recently greeted a leading high-profile businesswoman by asking where is

your husband? the reason representation matters is the policies, government introduceds and how they impact on women in the country. can he say for the first time in five years the gap between men and women's pay increased? >> thank you. >> more women in work in our country than ever before in history, we have seen a tax cut for 12 million women, pension increase in benefiting women, that will help women who want to go to work, more support on child care, and ps and candidates and enjoy this one. candidate for women, the labor candidate has made an endorsement today, he has endorsed milken's, david miller band. >> mr. speaker. if i were him i would not be

talking about candidates this week of all week. what is the tory party doing? removing one of their most senior women and seeking to replace her with an old -- the conservative party -- he didn't ask her the question. i will tell him what the gender pay gap is increasing. the minimum wage has been losing value. the growth of bureau contract and the problem women have accepting child care. he promised to modernize his party but he is going backwards. he runs his government like the old boys' network. he is failing women across his party and across the country. when six questions and invitation to condemn the strike today -- isn't that approve? he raises constituencies elections in a week when he completed rolls over to the trade union. let's be clear about what is

happening? they keep their votes and get more power over discretionary funding and get 90% of the votes for their leader. he told us he is going to get rid of the red flag. all he has done is run up the white flag. >> in west norfolk, led by confectionary expanded, unemployment falling by 20% since march last year. another 440 hard-working families pay package, they face a brighter future under our long-term economic plan. >> my hon. friend is absolutely right. two weeks ago, the biggest increase in employment since the records began in the 1970s,

unemployment comes down, more people in works, most of the new jobs, overwhelming majority are full-time jobs, 10 of those jobs in the last year have been in better paid professions rather than low-paid jobs so we are seeing economic defense and every one of those jobs isn't just a statistic but someone with a pay package to contain care of their family and have the dignity and security the work brings but isn't it surprising not word about the economy today from labor? they know because all their forecasts were wrong day. >> mr. speaker, in evidence to the welsh select committee of the leader of the welsh conservative assembly group said about the lockstep context, not a sensible course of action. subsequently that did the secretary of state for wales said he was expressing very much a personal view of his own late later he received a letter from

the wealth assembly group conservative saying very much that opinion, who speaks for whales? the secretary or the leader of the assembly? a superb job standing up for whales and yesterday he and i were discussing how to make sure the nato conference coming to whales would be a successful the whole world's economy. in terms of the future we are in favor of taking these further steps, bringing forward legislation, taking steps and making sure people in wales have a real say and i want the conservatives in wales to stand up and under this system that is what they will do. >> a couple weeks ago the university technical college opened the door to its new campus where under the stewardship of its excellent principal david edmundston it spurred 96 students learned the vocational skills young people compete in the future. my right hon. friend agree with

the university technical colleges will ensure young people across their country have a more secure future and are able to reap the benefits of our long-term economic -- >> my hon. friend is absolutely right. making sure we have the best schools is an absolutely key part of long-term economic plan and i support the university technical college movement, the number of pupils talks in underperforming schools has fallen by 250,000 in four years. that isn't just a statistic but tens of thousands of young people who have the chance of a good education, good future and a chance to get a job and get involved in the modern economy and they are well placed to help thousands of students in that way. >> on february 22nd, 2012, i asked the prime minister about a company working with job-seekers. he told me he was waiting for the truth before he would act.

this week, revealed a culture of fraud in the company. taxpayer funded fraud stirrers getting too long to get a stock. >> the honorable lady makes an important point but the answer i would give is instead of banding around names of companies where many people in those companies will be working hard to good job, what we should do is investigate wrongdoing properly and make sure the courts that change property taken to court is in this case it clearly was. >> does the prime minister share my outrage by the chairman of the environment agency between protecting urban and rural areas from floods and be recognized the my constituents in solitary levels and elsewhere expect

dredging and not abandonment? >> my hon. friend is absolutely right. they shouldn't be a false choice between protecting the talent or protecting people who live in the countryside. what we need to see and where the debate is rightly going is from the late 1990s or far too long the environment agency believed it was wrong to dredge. those of us with constituencies affected by flooding have seen the effectiveness of some dredging that has taken place. it is good for some places, we need to make the argument will be good for many more places. we are going to see dredging in the somerset levels. that will make a difference. i believe it is time for natural england, the environment agency and the department to set around a table to work at a new approach to make sure something that did work for decades and centuries is introduced again. >> mr. speaker, queen victoria

was on the phone. when the factory and burlington, world class for the motor sports industry. land rover now needs the land which it owns for the wealth and expansion of the jaguar class. the secretary and city council by the financial package to relocate. will the prime minister join with the business secretary, and 120 years of manufacturing history. >> just before coming to the chamber, looking carefully at it, the recovery of the automotive sector but to give the lee westwood lynn, the hon. gentleman has been hugely welcome for our country. historic name, historic brand to open the business secretary to get a good outcome. >> thank you, mr. speaker.

>> prove that our long-term economic plan has worked. however the current options under consideration are limited in their ambition and do not maximize the economic potential of the gateway. will my friend agreed to meet with me so he can hear why option a and certainly option c are not the right answer? >> wherever it goes the rest of the country follows. this is an important issue. look at all the potential bottlenecks that control back the economy. i am happy to meet with him and colleagues. is an absolutely vital development for the country and i want to see economic of elements spread throughout our country so happy to hold that meeting. >> mr. speaker? currently seeking 587, almost 80% higher than when the government fought off its sheer.

mr. prime minister indy honestly believe -- and it would be the best yield. >> the government did a good job to get private sector capital, something which has offended government of all colors and all persuasions for decades and i will remember sitting on that side of the house and hearing about royal mail, tens of millions, hundreds of millions of pounds, the fact that it is well managed, well run with private capital, a very great development for our country. >> a strong history of supporting apprenticeships across a range of sectors, natural apprenticeships approaching next month, does my right hon. friend agree with me the emphasis and drives by this

government of increasing apprentice ships for men and women is exactly -- getting back into that? >> my hon. friend is absolutely right. there are record amounts of apprenticeship, 1.5 million people strutted apprenticeships including some that i met in the constituency, these are not just statistics. every one of these, a chance, skill, job, and opportunity to build a life for themselves and built that stability, that peace of mind, that security, the first right of every person in the country. >> can i tell the prime minister the loss of a railway line in the overnight storm is the devastating blow to the economy, it comes a year after we lost the railway service for a whole month and last year's flood. does he accept as a country we are going to have to spend a great deal more investing in the

resilience of the infrastructure and we need a government that is united those in its acceptance of and determination to do something about climate change. >> i agree wholeheartedly with the right hon. gentleman on a number of points. we need to make sure urgent action is taken to restore the transport links and that is why i will be chairing the cobra bringing together the problems of the reduction the floods and the effect on our transport. second of all we need to make sure we go on investing in rail schemes and the government is putting record amounts into rail schemes. the third point where i totally agree with him, we have done and need to continue to do a real analysis of the resilience of our infrastructure, a paradigm by the cabinet office and where extra investment and protections are needed they must be put in place. >> in my constituency, the report manufacturing jobs to

this country from china. can he say what government is doing to encourage more shoring of jobs to the uk as part of our long-term economic -- >> to see a company that makes regulation equipment bringing jobs from china into the u.k. a small friend at the moment, 1,500 jobs in manufacturing reach toward since 2011 but if we manage to make sure our energy is competitive, keep our labor markets competitive, make this a friendly country for business with low tax rates including local tax rates vary is no reason we shouldn't see more companies coming back to britain. we have an anti enterprise and i business labor party. >> thank you, mr. speaker. once we issued a calling report on the report, will the prime

minister have a historic process, disciplinary action and subsequent pay off used as a mechanism to bully stock and ensure the executive team and the board held to recount and actually make a huge statement that bullying is not acceptable in the nhl s. >> the hon. lady is right to raise this specific case but also the general lesson that it brings. of course we have more to do but the see q c is an improved organization. we have achieved inspector of hospitals. all of this gives much more transparency than in the past but happy to look at the specific concerns about bullying and make sure that the ctc deals with this. this week the anniversary of that dreadful report into the stafford hospital and my right hon. friend is committed to making sure there's a change of culture where we don't put out

for practice and not afraid or ashamed to service them, not just talk about them but deal with them. >> in my constituency business confidence is growing and unemployment has fallen by a quarter, will my right hon. friend agree we should take no lectures from the shadow chancellor? particularly given the report that says, quote, latest challenge for the chance to have to contend for the consequences of the great recession of recession caused by the party opposite? >> my hon. friend makes an important point and the official studies report as of this morning. and the year ago, really quite remarkable. the u.k. recovery is getting closer to achieving this kid velocity. we are told at that time. more taxing and more debt.

the keys to the core of driving just as fast. >> thank you, mr. speaker. make clear whether he still quite wrongly is going to try to end the ban -- >> my view remains what was in the manifesto which is the house of commons should have the opportunity to have a vote on this issue. >> does my right hon. friend share the anxiety of many of us? the program of the discretion of chemical weapons in syria has fallen so badly behind? >> i agree with my right hon. friend. what was a promising start with chemicals not only being discovered and removed but also destroyed the do seem to be indications that the program is slowing and not all the

information is forthcoming. i discussed this issue with vladimir putin some 48 hours ago. britain will continue to put pressure on all parties to make sure chemical weapons are produced and destroyed. >> mr. speaker, the students offered places at top british universities get extra coaching in english and math, the hard-working students from poor backgrounds with top bailable predictions are not offered a place if they have a c grade in math which is not fair and doesn't tell social mobility. what is the prime minister going to do to support hard-working students? >> we must continue what is happening which is the introduction of the academy schools, one of the most impressive schools i ever visited in any country anywhere in the world, continue with that we need to continue with my right hon. friend chancellor's plan to uncap student numbers at universities so anyone who can get the grades is able to find a place and those universities. on the specific point about the

grades, we have to be clear that in the end it is universities that set the criteria rather than government but i am happy to look at the specific issue. i also believe as education secretary said if people don't make the correct grades particularly in english and math we ought to be encouraging more work. the reason for that is there isn't a job in the world that doesn't require a good english and math. that is an important message to go out. >> no doubt the prime minister's policy resulted in storm damage in my constituency. 25 families have been evaluated. one house is about to fall into the sea. can the prime minister confirm he is taking all action possible to get business back in action and crucially to look at the view of the funding to protect the railway line which cannot be

implemented in lack of funding? >> i am happy to look at all the suggestions she makes. that is why we are holding this cobra this afternoon. not only is this a vital artery for the southwest of our country but one of the most scenic and beautiful railway lines anywhere in our country so it is upsetting and disturbing what has happened. we will look all the options with great urgency. >> the prime minister will be aware of the investigation into the systematic abuse and rape of young men and boys at the detention center in my constituency. the victim has topped holds 300, the biggest investigation undertaken by the constabulary and will the prime minister commit that if this proves necessary, his secretary will meet with the chief constable and myself, highly successful

team that resulted in an investigation? >> i am very glad to give the hon. lady that assurance. i don't support the police merger ideas of the past. i think our smaller police forces are hugely capable but when they're doing complex large investigations like this on occasion they need help and support so we should make sure that is available. i am pleased with the work and national crime agency is doing, fully established, up and running and able to deal with the more serious crimes in terms of people smuggling and sexual abuse and the like and we will hear more about the great work they are doing. >> congratulating my right hon. friend on the e.u. referendum and also the house of commons in passing it. will my right hon. friend tell us whether the parent is merely

resting and does he have a plan to introduce the parliament act to get parents talking again? >> i hope -- obviously beautiful plumage. can be resuscitated. one of my colleagues is fortunate enough to win the private member's bill on this side of the house. weiner the british public deserve a say and i am sure my colleagues will be delighted to bring the bill back in front but let's be clear. we have all gotten a bit quiet over is there. let's be clear about why this bill was killed in the house of lords. the labor party and i am afraid to say the liberal democrat party do not want to give the british people may say. this house should be affronted. we voted for this bill, we supported this bill. the house will come together as one and insist on this bill. >> the chancellor for 2012 made

an announcement about t.a.r.p.. the response to the european convention of the vehicles such -- the tiger, a detrimental effect on industry. can the prime minister and the chancellor -- >> i share the hon. gentleman's frustration and it is within government's rights to help and support vital industries like this that are so important for the future of the country. we are discussing it with the european commission, told of good news to come shortly. >> following questions form the hon. -- in cambridge. of course absolutely true the residency, the most recent storm, that england will be cut off and in view of that in cornwall, contentious support of billions necessary for other

transfer projects to the north. does the prime minister accept the small amounts needed now needed to assure the resilience of the rail line? >> i know from personal experience it depends on the link and how many people rely on it. i am happy to look at this urgently and repeat something i was trying to say at the beginning of the questions, members of parliament are concerned that they have a unitary authority, a big claim before triggering, sorting that out for money and assistance to be there but on transport links and urgent requirement to get this right. >> here on c-span2 believe the british house of commons as they move to other legislative business. you have been watching prime minister's question time aired live when theys at 7:00 a.m. eastern while parliament is in session. you can see question time again at 9:00 eastern and pacific on

c-span. for more information go to c-span.org and click on c-span ceres for prime minister's questions plus links to international news media and legislatures around the world. you can watch recent video including programs dealing with other international issues. >> federal panel and military sexual assaults, preliminary decision last week to maintain the current chain of command procedures for sexual assault investigations. and there was a public comment forum for sexual assault victims. this is 2-1/2 hours. >> i would like to start by saying thank you. and to discuss military sexual trauma so i will not be silent any more, i am an army veteran.

i am the granddaughter of a decorated soldier. i am a military sexual trauma survivor. i am the author of silent film noir, you can reach me at my sexual assault and the story of harry nolan, they lost their lives to military sexual trauma. i am also a former law enforcement sexual assault investigator. i have a bachelor of science and criminal justice specializing in victims studies. i am here as a victim and an advocate. in 1982 capt. ted mars was stationed in fort eustace, va. and there was a new survey of military women on their post. his task was to determine how

female soldiers were adapting to the military where they had been treated as equals. since he felt this was a task better suited for women he felt women would open up better to another woman he assigned four female soldiers to perform this survey. capt. mars was so enraged and mortified by the atrocities have reported back to him, he took upon himself to right the first zero tolerance policy. i have personally been in contact with captain mars where i received this information. i would like to go from there, keep in mind it was 1982. 1986 i was 18 years old by three month.

i had completed basic training which no one can say they enjoyed, but i will say it took me from a civilian to a soldier. i had two of the best drill sergeants you could ever say and no one likes bullseye ands. i did not at the time. if they tell you they do they are lying. those gentlemen taught us what honor, courage, loyalty was about. i loved the military. i came from a broken home, an abusive home. i found a place i belong to until i reached for eustace, virginia. i was on the installation not even one week when we were at our supply, been issued our gear. my platoon's drill sergeant went

inside to see where we're we were in orders, when he was gone i was called out of formation blackmail drill sergeant. any of you that have been in the military know it is bad enough to be called out by your own drills sergeant or a sergeant much less one you do not even know. and all you can think of is what have i done? your heart rates, you are terrified, as i went over to this drill sergeant to stand at attention i was rather shocked when he asks me where i was from. i replied texas. his comment was, that is what i thought. i heard you talking and i love that southern accent. my sergeant came back outside and yelled for me to return to formation which i did. we went in and were issued our

equipment. i never gave it another thought of being called out until four days later. and reading a letter from my husband, in houston training, a female enlisted came in with a note that told me i was to report to the first sergeant's office. again all you can think of is terror. i had no idea why i was being called fair but fear is drilled in you from day one. i reported to the office, there was no one in the outer office. if you have been in the military, like the ceo of the hat secretary sits in the office, there was no one there. as i walked in i was told to

enter. i walk in and the first sergeant is sitting there and is the male who called me out of formation that day. he had just replaced our former first sergeant who was being held on rape charges. i was told to report for a special duty later that night at 9:00, we would be wearing pt gear and i was dismissed. i went back to my room, finished the letter to my husband and reported for duty. when i a arrived there, it was a room that was tweet 2 doors down from my dorm room. i knocked on it. there was no answer. i knocked again, no answer. i tried the door handle, opened it, there was a dark room. i reached in to turn the light on and was grabbed by the arm

and pulled into that room. he had not stopped thinking about me since he heard me talk the first day. i realize to was in the room with me. and it was in that room, during a thunderstorm, i was raped for the first time. i say the first-time because i was under his command for another 7 weeks. i was threatened, my husband and i's military career, we came from poor families. we were the first of both of our families to graduate high school. this was our opportunity to go to college to change our lives, to be better. i was threatened that if i said

anything my husband and i would never serve at the same base. the ultimate threat was he would hold me over and recycle me which would put me under his command for another eight weeks. but you see, even with all of the threats i did speak out. i told my husband, whose advice was to keep quiet because it was a few weeks out of the rest of our lives. i called an uncle who was a master sergeant serving in korea who advised me that if i wanted to stay in the military that i would keep quiet and go to my next base. so i kept quiet. i was an exemplary soldier. i served until my husband was killed by a drunk driver. i was six months pregnant and got out. i have raised my children, got a

college degree, i never spoke until 1990. i went to the head of the women's department at the houston va because i was having depression, nightmares. i can't even begin to describe the things. i was informed there were no programs to help me. she recommended i go to aa meetings. i do not drink. i did not drink. but that was the help of that was offered, a a meeting this. i did not speak again until september of 2012 when i was sitting in my room with a gun to my head. i couldn't take the pain anymore. my husband cannot walk up behind me and hugged me without giving me whining because i startle.

he is currently a contractor in afghanistan. when he is gone i sleep with a loaded gun on the pillow next to me. i spent three years in my home. i could not leave. i had a teenage son who became my chauffeur when my husband was gone. this child spent his young adult day is driving me back and forth to doctors' appointments, psychiatrists, grocery shopping because i couldn't be out in public. for the panel that said before me a few minutes ago i would like to say is this. there is one major factor that has been overlooked. from the very day you enter the military to the mission is drilled into you, you are told you do not challenge ranking in

ceos or officers. there was no one in my chain of command that i knew nor felt comfortable enough to tell what happened to me. had i had someone, anyone at that time that i could have gone to, i wouldn't have been silent for 26 years. i have grown children that i am trying to build bonds with that should have been done when they were children but because of this association i was not able to give them the nurturing law that they deserved. i am of 46-year-old woman who is learning what it means to be compassionate with my children. my children were raised with what was drilled in me. put your debate girl panties on, get up and move on. my children frequently refer to

me as the ice queen because i don't show emotions, i don't show love, i don't show hate, i am just me. the panel before me sat here and said the chain of command is equipped to deal with this. i say it is not. had i told my platoon sergeant he would have had to report it to the chain of command, to my first sergeant, my rapist. how could i feel secure in reporting it, not to keep in mind the threat and the intimidation? how could i have received fair and just investigation when my chain of command included my

rapist? i would like to move on to 1996, aberdeen proving grounds. after the scandal broke, retired colonel ned mars was interviewed by people magazine in which the studies that was conducted in 1982 was discussed. the zero tolerance policy. he had written 14 years earlier. is now 2014. 32 years after that policy was written. we are still given lip service to zero tolerance and command's ability to control and reduce the alarming rate of military sexual assault. clearly zero tolerance has not and is not effective. the military is not just about its leaders. it is not just about the command. it needs to focus and care as

much about the lower enlisted and officers. it was suggested by the gentleman on the end, i didn't catch his name, i am sorry, that we give the chain of command another chance. i say 32 years. if you look at it, much longer than that was enough of a chance. if we give them another five years, if we do that, at the current rate of 26,000 sexual assaults reported in 2012, we are allowing a a minimum of another 130,000 soldiers to be potentially a salted while the command attempt to prove it can be effective in what it has filled out for the last 50

years. that shows the majority of reports do not even reach the higher command out of fear of intimidation, retaliation, a humiliation and potentially death as in the two women i talked about in my book. this is why i support the military justice improvement act for removing the convening authority. zero tolerance is not a new phrase, it is not a new policy, it has been around at least 32 years. it has not worked. it will not work. i do not seek that the

commanders deserved another 130,000 victims so that they can prove they can do something that they have not managed to do in the last 34 years. thank you for your time. >> i want to say it is very important for that you came here today and we were able to hear what happened to you and i appreciate that it couldn't have been easy for you. >> thank you very much. >> next we have jennie lee from arkansas. >> thank you. it is a pleasure to be here

today. because i get a chance to no longer be silent. i knew when i was a little girl taking care of my mom just after she had broken her back, i wanted to be a registered nurse. i spend my school career going towards that goal of being a registered nurse. my senior year in high school, our country was attacked overseas. libya bombed a popular g.i. bar in frankfurt, germany. president reagan responded swiftly and with the least

amount of casualties possible and taught me that i wanted to be a soldier too. so that i could combine two dreams into one. i could and list, become a nurse, an officer, and make a career out of it. it started to be swiftly taken away from me. my second week in basic training i had gotten sick from all the immunizations and my drill sergeant, who was often under the influence of alcohol more

than sober said that i had to be isolated because my fellow recruits said that i was keeping them awake with my coughing. and in the middle of the night i could feel hands touch my head as if feeling for fever. at first i thought it is my dad checking on me. then that hand moved down to my breast and continued down the rest of my body. as i tried to fight him, he took his forearms and placed over the top of my shoulders, my chest

and my throat so i couldn't scream out. he told me if i quit fighting i wouldn't be hurt. i kept fighting for a while. and i realized he had far more strength than i did. when he was done, he told me to go clean up. and put on other clothes and report back to my bunk. the next morning i had bruises on my neck and my arms and chest, on the inside of my legs

and my knees. i remember his threat. he told me if i dared to say anything, that i would end up like the girl in this cycle before us. i would be dad. seven weeks later i thought i was pregnant. i didn't know yet that physical activity makes a woman's minerals -- menstrual cycle

slow. i also had a bad urinary tract infection that started that night but i was scared to do anything. my gut told me to just deal with it. i called my mom and i told her about what happened. my mom told me if you don't talk about it, it didn't happen. my best friend, when i called her, she just listened to me cry. when i thought i was pregnant, i

had to find out. so i requested to go to 6 hall. they treated me for a huge the eye but they said i wasn't pregnant and explained to me why. .. he threw me against the wall, the brick wall, destroying my shoulder.