>> from martha washington to michel obama "sundays at eight" p.m. eastern on an american history tv on c-span3.

>> and now live to london for british prime minister's question time. each week the house of commons is in session we bring you prime minister david cameron taking questions from members of the house of commons live wednesday morning here on c-span2. we invite your participation via twitter using hashtag pmqs. prior to question time members are finishing up other business and now live to the floor of the british house of commons. this week prime minister david cameron is in italy for meetings with italian prime minister. stand in for him is chancellor of the exchequer george osborne. >> if you're welsh government the uk government, local partners business committee all working together. >> border. questions to the prime minister. >> number one mr. speaker. [shouting] >> mr. speaker the transfer is

in italy and i've been as a aaa. this morning i had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others, and in addition to my duties in this house, i shall have further such meetings later today. >> thank you mr. speaker. under this government leadership the construction of rental homes has fallen to a 20 year loan but since 20:10 p.m. housing benefit paid to private landlords has risen by 1.5 billion pounds. does the chance to understand the connection would you like to come to my next surgery so my constituents can explain it to him? him? >> well first of a of course we are aware there is an acute housing shortage in london which is why we need to build more homes. but i can tell her this. we build more council housing in the last five years than the entire 13 years of the last

labour government. and i'm very happy to go there were we'll talk about the day claimant count is down by 25% over the year, and long-term youth unemployment is down 45% in the last year. the economic plan is working. >> thank you mr. speaker. pensions are really important issue to my constituents. the government has delivered on its side of the bargain by giving sabres a reason to access their pensions. will the chancellor do all he can do to make sure that the industry lives up to its side of the bargain and delivers on those freedoms? >> well, my honorable friend is absolutely right. that pension freedoms were introduced in april deliver a principal. the people of worked hard and saved all the last three trusted

with her own money, 60,000 people have access to their pensions savings so they're clearly concerned that some companies are not doing their part to make those freedoms available. we are investigating how to remove barriers and we are considering now a cap on charges and of asking the financial conduct authority to investigate. people of worked hard and save our deserve a better deal. >> thank you very much, mr. speaker. may i begin by congratulating the right honorable gentleman on his appointment as first secretary of state? >> here, here. >> it was reported this week that a 17 year old blew himself up in an ice of attack that killed 11 people -- isil -- i'm sure you'll agree when you do everything we can to prevent our young people from traveling to iraq and syria. so can he confirm whether the

government now has an agreement in place with all of the airlines to raise alerts when unaccompanied minors travel to known serial roots, and that our police are being notified by the turkish authorities with when british citizens arise as transport to serious? >> first talk and i think imports welcome to affect can't i welcome the right honorable gentleman to split. i think is on the would be extremely proud. speaking for the side of the house we are extremely relieved to see there's no been in the leadership contest opposite but plenty of -- [inaudible] [laughter] when it comes to the very serious situation around isil he raises a very serious situation around the isil. i think everyone in this house bishop of a 17 year old citizen of our country can become radicalized and become apparently a suicide bomber on the other side of the world. and, of course we've all seen

the stressing reports. we have taken a number of steps. we want to work with schools and mosques and other kindred institutions to prevent the radicalization. there's a new statutory duty to do that. second we're working with the airlines, including getting and places agreement that he talked about and providing the training at the borders to stop people traveling to countries like syria and, indeed, removing if they attempted to. third, and this will be an issue, we also need to make sure our security and intelligence services have the powers they need to track people are trying to get back into this country and i look forward to cross party support on that issue. >> i'm grateful for that reply. i think the house would appreciate an update on the progress of those discussions with the airlines and i noted that he wasn't able to respond to the question i asked about the turkish authorities because it's a very serious matter and we need to know where things have got to.

now, we know that for some time there's been a growing number of young people being groomed to travel to syria and iraq. last november the intelligence and security committee criticized the government for not giving to prevent programs sufficient priority and concluded, and i quote, that counterradicalization programs are not working. why does he think this is? >> well, frankly, i don't accept all of those conclusions and there's been a disagreement about the present program. but, frankly, i think in the past there was a confusion between the programs that support integration at the programs to try to prevent radical extremism. and as a result certain organizations got money that never should have got public money under the last government. the present program is doing its work but we have passed a very important law that now ensures there is a statutory duty on the public authorities like schools like universities, like the police but develop a preventive strategy and the

counterradicalization strategy because where i think we agree, lest after all an issue like this kind of in areas where we agree, where we agree is we need to do more it is committed to prevent this radicalization taking place in the first place. >> cannot assure the right honorable job and they will of course have the full support of the side of the house and measures that are taken to try to do with this problem. that can he assure us that community led prevent programs are not actually being implemented in places including provide appropriate training to teachers and other workers in the public sector as the new public sector did do they just refer to come and to force in two weeks on? >> i can confirm that training is taking place and, indeed, we provided additional resources. in the spirit of his constructive conversation, we have and extremism build which is in the queen's speech which goes further in seeking to disrupt groups that are plotting

to either commit offenses here in this country or indeed to travel abroad and become further radicalized. i hope the labour party look seriously at that extremism bill and offers its support to the side of the house. >> it's now clear right across the middle east and north africa the common enemy is a subject is the right honorable gentleman agree that our strategic objective must be to continue to bring together all of the countries affected in the region and internationally to put aside other differences and cooperate to confront isil? >> well, i of course completely agree with the right honorable gentleman. and britain plays a leading role in bringing together the various allies that are delivering the impact against isil and, indeed, we have had some welcome news a prominent terrorist leaders not necessary in the isil organization but in other organizations who have been killed in the last couple of days. if those reports are correct

it's a very very welcome step forward in the global fight against terrorism. you are right. ultimately, the iraqi government and the syrian people are going to have to find a way to take greater control of their own security. in iraq of course we worked with a legitimate government. in syria we support the moderate opposition and we continued to support and train the end of task that they undertake. >> on that subject, turning out how we resolve the crisis which is seen as a right honorable gentleman will know the largest movement of refugees since the end of the second world war. can he tell us what expectations he has for the new round of talks the u.n. special envoy is holding in geneva? >> well first of all, of course you'd like to talk about the displaced person particularly in countries like jordan and in turkey who are bearing an enormous burden. that is why britain has such a massive aid contribution. and i think again across this as we can be proud that the passage

in the recent german elections stood on the commitment to deliver -- [inaudible] not just a humanitarian effort but also to make sure that we're able to in situations like this. when it comes to burden sharing across the region, of course we want to help but i think we have to be realistic. we cannot take large numbers of searing refugees into our country. >> finally, mr. speaker as more and more people gather in libya to try to cross the mediterranean, hms bulwark is doing an excellent job in rescuing frightened people. but we learned yesterday that his opponent is under active review. having made a grave error last october in withdrawing support from the search and rescue operation can the right honorable gentleman assure the house that the government will continue to save the lives of those in peril on that see?

>> welcome of course i can give them the assurance we will continue to play our full part in the search and rescue operation in a train. there is essential maintenance that needs to be carried on hms bulwark which is clear and operational issue but no one should determine no one should anyway doubt britain's determination to play its role in helping. in the end of this point? which in the end is of this. taking people out of the water and rescuing them and their lives of course is absolutely essential your we are human condition and we need to do with the indian jet to break the link which enable someone to get on the boat and claim asylum in europe and spend the rest of the lives on the european continent. and that is the draw, that draws these people any for a better life but circumventing proper immigration control through the european continent i think we should work across europe to break that link and i look forward to his role in helping him -- in helping us do that.

>> thank you, mr. speaker. businesses in can't need graduates to employ. no, right honorable friend explain to the government is doing to ensure that people stay the most important academic subjects like math that employers value of? >> welcome i completely agree with my honorable friend, and of course, my right other than the education secretary said that i think really important education reforms yesterday, at the introduction of the ebay which will increase rigor in our school make sure that children are learning the essential subjects they need to get great jobs. and, of course today not much talked about yet but perhaps later in this section we should reflect on the fact that unemployment is down again in our country employment is up long-term unemployment is down as well. and for the first time wages are growing faster than since the great recession. and that shows that our economic

plan is working. >> thank you mr. speaker. the iraq war a decade ago and its aftermath has been an unmitigated disaster. to choke off inquiry into the causes of the war has now been running for six years at a cost of 10 million pounds. is it true that the report has been delayed until next year? >> the employer is of course completely independent of government and we do not determine when it publishes its conclusions were i agree with the honorable judgment is this. it has been a long time coming and people i think running out of patience to go to see that report i would make a broader observation, of course there was a cross party lines between the scottish nationals and the conservative party when the call to inquire to be set up early than actually was. if it had been without the conclusions now. >> picture much mr. speaker.

it's worth remembering the chancellor of the exchequer and the prime minister both voted for the war that we were led into by the then labour government. does he feel he has no moral or political responsibility to get to the bottom of the reasons why we went into this catastrophic war in the first place? and what is he going to do about this? >> that responsibility is fulfilled when we voted to create an independent inquiry. we want to see the results of the independent inquiry. i think those involved in chilcot would avert the view of the house of commons today and, indeed, public concern about how long this inquiry is taking. but ultimately this is an independent inquiry. if there wasn't an independent inquiry people would question his motives. it is independent but think you should get on with it. >> thank you mr. speaker. the tunnel --

[inaudible] would the chancellor join me in congratulating everybody who's been involved in this most amazing feat of engineering which this country must be truly proud of? >> well, i think my honorable friend rightly draws attention to one of the great engineering marvels of the world which is at this fantastic crossrail tunnel that has been built up one of the under one of the oldest capital cities on the planet. the honorable gentleman says how much it didn't cost that it did cost money but to you what. this government is investing in the infrastructure to provide -- [shouting] and if we were not making the savings in the coming budget elsewhere we wouldn't be able to provide for our children. >> thank you very much, mr. speaker. [shouting]

>> calm your self, man. [laughter] calm down. a bit of yoga would help. [laughter] >> i'm very grateful mr. speaker put it is both sad and disturbing that the number of reported rapes in greater london has risen by 68% in the last 10 years. sexual crime is up by 35% in the last year. will the chancellor commit the extra resources to the police to ensure that they catch and jail the perpetrators come but also they continue to support organizations working with women in the most sensitive manner? >> of course we continue to provide that support. and, indeed, we have to the operational incentives by the metropolitan police seemed to please focusing more on these heinous crimes. and, of course, one of the other piece of news is there's increase reported as well and

women coming forward who have been victims of the horrific record i'm always prepared to look at extra request the resources if there is more to do we can help. >> in my constituency, one year alone and the last part of the number of apprenticeships and doubled which is part of more than 2 million apprenticeships in the country as a whole. clearly very beneficial to businesses and to young people. will my right honorable friend confirm that apprenticeships as an important priority of? >> well i can confirm that 3 million apprenticeships is the objective of this government building on success of providing 2 million of friendships in the last parliament. i think the whole house will want to congratulate my honorable friend of the can he apprenticeships advisor to the prime minister. he has a very important role to

play because of the are many companies great companies who run great apprenticeship programs, but not enough but notnot in of companies give those up and ship programs and hope they will receive a knock on the door from my honorable friend. >> will he confirm that to waste water from fracking will be properly treated so it is safe to drink again speak with well we will have the proper environmental standards around the expiration of shale gas come but i think for this country to turn its back on one of these great natural resources which other countries are using whidbey to basically condemn our country to higher energy bills and not as many jobs. and, frankly, i don't want to be part of a generation that says all the economic activity was happening somewhere else in the world and was happening in our country and wasn't happening on our continent. so we should get off with a safe

environment ally protected exploration of our shale gas resources. >> thank you, mr. speaker. [inaudible] successfully secured the future -- telescope project and over 12 million pounds to highlight its unique science heritage. does my friend agree there is further evidence, importance to science in his compelling vision of a northern powerhouse? >> welcome my honorable friend is quite right to draw attention to the success at manchester university and the bank that in securing the international headquarters of the square kilometer array experiment i visited the bank in the middle of the elections campaign to drop in and congratulate them on their achievement which was achieved under instructions issued by the previous government. it is the world's largest science experiment that it's an

incredible collaboration across nations and i'm extremely proud that its headquarters are in the northern powerhouse. >> thank you, mr. speaker. today sees him as lobby in westminster of people are committed action on climate change. -- does he agree facing out call we in this house have responsibility to divest our parliamentary pension fund fossil fuels as the event in norway very recently? >> well it's way above my pay grade to interfere with the parliamentary trustees of the pension fund here. and i leave the decisions on investment to them. but i would agree with the honorable lady at the lobby as part it is important to date and those pairs talks at the end of the our real opportunity to get global commitment to finding standards and carbon targets. britain will play its full part. what we want to achieve is to do

with those greenhouse gas company our international obligations on climate change but doing it in the cheapest way possible for the consumers of electricity here in britain. >> think you very much mr. speaker. [shouting] >> after years of undeserved neglect, my city up with is beginning to enjoy some infrastructure and investment everyone is quite brilliant potential and you can see that today. jobs figures that have shown an unemployed fall of almost half since this chance working in. would be chancellor confirm to me and most important step on this is our train. taken from to me where we are without today, please? >> my honorable friend is already doing a great job in speaking up for the city of plymouth alongside other honorable friend come and as a result of major investments in the southwest by the upgrade and, of course, the new train on

the great western line down to the southwest. i can confirm we're in active discussions to provide those new trains and to help the for the good news later this summer. >> according to the women's annual survey last year on one single day there were 132 women aged 18-20 living of refuge after being attacked, assaulted and in some cases raped. will the chancellor today guaranteed for me and those women that those living in supported accommodation like refuge would not be included in his government plans to remove housing benefit from those aged 18-214 will receive 132 women abused return to their violent partners every day? >> well, we made it very clear what we set out our proposals on housing benefits that we would

protect basically, for little people such as the people the honorable lady refers to come and i welcome her to the house. but i would pick a broader argument about welfare before. this country faces a a very simple choice be with one person of the world population, 4% gdp but we undertake 7% of the world's welfare spending. we can either carry on in a completely unsustainable path or we can continue to reform welfare and get a fair deal to those on welfare and indeed, a fair deal to the people, the taxpayers of this country who pay for it. >> order. >> thank you. does potential agree that today's elections to chairmanship of select committees are a great success story for parliament as a whole? [laughter]

i -- i'm very grateful for the for the gesture of support from the whole house of commons. [laughter] in which case since they are success and particularly if the prime minister is going to miss a few wednesdays, we suggest to the prime minister vetting out appear before the liaison committee more than three times a year? >> i've asserted pass on the request. [laughter] my honorable friend is right to draw attention to the success of these elections. we shouldn't of course exists for the conservative came into office. i'm not sure his own election isn't the best possible example of this since i think he is unelectable in unopposed in his own election. >> well, elected unopposed immigrant i think that's what the right honorable gentleman and. >> thank you, mr. speaker. i want to add my contribute -- [inaudible] on climate change.

can potential to do with the government is doing diplomatically to support the tough global field? but also to ensure a level field for carbon efficient companies indicate to ensure that we don't see global emissions simply increase by offshore and into places like china? >> that is of course what a global deal is on board and we are actively engaged in these negotiations, indeed the prime minister was speaking to the french president about this only last week or so we are determined that britain plays a leading role along with our colleagues in europe and delivering a binding global target so that individual parts of the world can't opt out. >> mr. speaker -- [shouting] employment in crawley is at record high levels with companies like creative -- created extra jobs. can my right honorable friend say what additional policies can

be done by the government to ensure that companies can flourish further still? >> well of course a small and medium-sized businesses of which we've seen i think around three quarters of a million created in the last five years or the engine of growth in our economy and are one of the reasons why as he said the claimant count in his own constituency is down almost two-thirds. more encouragingly long-term youth claimant count is to pay down by 75%. it will go on doing things like providing that implement the amount which helps to small businesses employ more people. of course, what will be disasters is to abandon the economic plan borrow and spend more. because the worst thing for a small business is economic instability that puts them out of business. >> the chancellor will be aware of the incidents on thursday in my constituency were a few

people -- a people is accused of stabbing his teacher giunta whole house will wish to join in expressing its shock, it of this war-fight incident and also want to wish the teacher a swift and full recovery. can the chancellor tell the house what the steps he's taking to cut down crime in our schools a? >> well, first of all can i say to the honorable lady i think she speaks to the whole house and sending sympathies to the teacher and of course, to the people and staff of that school. i think our hearts go out to dinner i think the leadership in the school dealt with the situation in carbon will. and i know the education sector spoke to the head. of course, what we've done is given teachers now powers to search bags of people and the like but if there are more things we can do is learn the lessons of this incident, of course we will. >> thank you very much mr. speaker. figures released today show that the number of job seekers

allowance claims the my constituency have dropped in the last five years by nearly 60%. can't i thank my right over friend for his recent letter, and then ask them to agree with me that for the rail investment down to portland to increase jobs and prosperity in my constituency? >> my honorable friend has raised with me the case of his particularly slow rail service to portland and we will look into. were making a massive commitment to the southwest the biggest ever commitment of infrastructure to the southwest of 7 billion pounds program and i will look to see what they can do to improve the rail service to his constituents so we probably connect up to the southwest. >> chancellor will be aware that under the coalition 299 pounds is allocated to rebuilding the hospital. would you like to restate the

commitment to that funding so we can save the hospital? >> welcome we did commit to that hospital project and provided continue to provide money which include does. we will go on providing that support. of course, what we've done is commit to the stevens plan for the national service an additional 8 billion pounds for nhs become something you can only get if you and your public finances in better order and your growing our economy, and that's precisely what we are doing. >> thank you mr. speaker. [shouting] >> since my right honorable friend became chancellor, and upon has fallen in derby by 64%. [inaudible] a trend fastest growing economy in the uk. this will come as no surprise to chancellor who recently visited my constituency and spoke about

the engine of growth. a secret with me that we should even more to support small business across the midlands great more jobs, better skills and boost our economy even more? >> welcome i very much enjoyed this thing the engineering term and are constituency a couple of weeks ago. it's an outstanding example of a successful medium-size business growing in the east midlands, exporting around the world. it's what we want to see more of in our country. that's why we've got a policy but to live economic security for our nation in uncertain times, delivers more jobs more infrastructure more devoted to small businesses all so we can back the working people of this country. >> the right honorable gentleman expressed -- for my constituency

constituency. will the chancellor agreed to convene a meeting between myself and ministers to discuss the revisit with you to counterterror policy, particularly countering radicalization speak was i know we'll be happy to meet the honorable lady and indeed, with your constituents that but i think of course we want to work together to try and prevent other tragic cases like this one and of course, let's not forget the victims of the suicide bomb. and that is going to be a great generational task for us is could be a islamic and the radicalization by young people is not going to be something we saw in the face of weak or a month or even potential in this parliament. so we need to work across party divide. we also need to work with all the different public services to make sure we prevent these young people thinking that somehow their life or their death is better off on the other side of the world.

>> thank you, mr. speaker. today's employment figures are produced my constituency where a number of people out of work is down to 895. during the election the chancellor said that his plans. kenny update the house -- -- kenny update of the house speak with personal and very much welcome my honorable friend to the house. is ex ord after 32 minutes of the session not a single question from the labour party on jobs? [shouting] and went and never stand up to talk about the good news in his constituency he gets shouted down by the opposite side. the truth is the long-term youth claimant count in his constituent is down by 50% it will go on investing in the

south coast as a general election the labour party wanted to counsel the improvements. i thought it spoke volumes of the long-term vision for country. will go on investing in that road any other key infrastructure we need to see roads and rail and broadband across the south of england. >> thank you very much mr. speaker. [shouting] >> is the second aware among concern that the calculation of the public lending right is being distorted by increasing the of public -- libraries being run by funded because of the huge cuts in local council? will be asked the cultural secretary who i know is extremely knowledgeable in these matters to assure this rectified and the they can expect the reports for which they are entitled to? >> welcome i know we have to address some potential to

lending right and the last couple of years and i'm happy to look specifically at the case come at the issue he raises and see if there's more we can do. >> done nothing. >> today's an opponent they can provide further compelling evidence -- the. [shouting] -- of the strength of united kingdom's economic recovery thanks in large measure to a long-term economic plan -- [shouting] but given the strength of that recovery, may i launch an appeal to my right honorable friend that we do now commit to spending 2% of gdp on our defenses most appointed military capability gaps we have had to sustain? and in these troubled times, to

measure our principal allies united states of america, that's a long as we have a conservative government, defense of the realm will be the number one priority of this country? [shouting] >> first of all i welcome the support of my honorable friend of the economic plan that is delivering jobs. of course, the military can the defense industries are incredibly important employer in his constituency and he is right that we can't have strong defense without a strong economy. eddie's right to pursue we're spending 2% of our gdp on defense. we made a commitment to the future equipment program for defense and will set out our future plans at the spending review. if i may mr. speaker at the end of the session since he raises a military matter it is the 75th anniversary of the sinking of the agency which was the largest loss of british lives at sea in the history of this maritime nation. some of the survivors are still alive today and many of course

more to those who died and was kept secret at the time for reasons of wartime secrecy, and i think it is appropriate to do in this house of commons to them all of those who survived and those who died and their families who still mourn them. >> here, here. >> order. >> [inaudible conversations] >> here on c-span2 wielded the british house of commons as members move on to other business. you have been watching prime minister's questions time and live wednesday's when parliament is in session. a quick reminder you can see this week's session begins sunday nights at nine eastern and pacific on c-span. and for more information go to

c-span.org and click on series to you every program with ed from the british house of commons since october of 1989. we invite your comments about prime minister's questions via twitter using the hashtag pmqs. >> yesterday the senate voted to end debate on the annual defense programs built an 83-15 for. in the arctic leaders have been critical of the bill because of an extra $38 billion added for the pentagon's more fun. that both allows for a potential final passage vote on the bill later this week. senators also considered several amendments to the defense bill and approved one that would prohibit certain enhanced interrogation techniques that critics have called torture. the amendments main sponsors democrat dianne feinstein and republican john mccain discuss the issue before the vote.

>> mr. president? >> the senator from new york. >> mr. president, iritis george michael and support my amendment number 1578 the military justice improvement act, to ensure that survivors of military sexual assaults have access to an unbiased, trained military judicial system. last year despite the support of 55 senators a coalition banning the entire ideological spectrum, including both the majority and minority leader, are our bill to create an independent military justice system free of inherent biases and conference of interest within the chain of command was filibustered by this body. but as we said then we will not walk away. the brave men and women in uniform who are defending this nation deserve a vote. that is our duty. it is our oversight role.

it's congress' responsibility to act. if the great survivors of sexual assaults are our sons, daughters, husbands, wives are being betrayed by the greatest military on earth. we owe them that at the very least. over the last few years congress has forced the military to make many incremental changes to address this crisis. and after two decades of complete failure and lip service toto zero tolerance, the military now says essentially, trust us at this time, we've got it. they misrepresented data who claim that their mission is accomplished but when you dig below the surface of the top lines you will find that the assault rate is exactly where it was in 2010 an average of 52 cases every single day. and three out of four service members survivors still don't

think it's worth the risk of coming forward to report crimes committed against them. 75% don't trust the current system. one in seven victims was assaulted by someone in their chain of command. and 60% of the cases a supervisor or unit leader is responsible for either sexual harassment or sexual discrimination. this is not the climate that our military deserves. it is no surprise then that one in three survivors believe that reporting what are their career. for those who do report they are more likely than not to experience retaliation. despite a much touted reform amid retaliation a crime the dod made zero progress on improving the 62% retaliation right that we had in 2012.

according to human rights watch report, the dod cannot provide a single example of serious disciplinary action taken against those who retaliate against a victim of sexual assault. a sexual assault survivor is 12 times more likely to suffer retaliation than see their own vendor get convicted of a sex offense. and in my close review of 107 cases from the largest domestic military bases one from each of service, in 2013 i found that nearly half of those who did move forward and report ended up dropping out of their cases. survivors still have little faith in this system. and any metric of the system remains plagued with distrust and does not provide fair and just processed at our survivors, our men and women in our military deserve simply put the

military has not held up to the standard posed by general dempsey one year ago when he said, we are on the clock, if you will. the president said to us in december you've got about a year to review this thing. and we haven't been able to demonstrate we are making a difference, you know then we deserve to be held to the scrutiny and standard. i urge my colleagues told the military to that higher standard. enough is enough with the excuses and the false promises. and just yesterday i received a letter from a mother of a survivor of military sexual assault who is serving active duty. she says the reason i'm writing on her behalf is because i fear she will be retaliated against for speaking out. while the military is on the hill lobbying senators not to support the military justice improvement act, i'm asking you to take a stand with survivors and their families. these military lobbyists have

good intentions. however, i'm doubtful any of them will represent my perspective. i have experienced the anguish of a child who has been raped by another service member, a fellow brother in arms, who she should have been able to trust. please support the military justice improvement act a commonsense law that significantly improves the military justice system your car military sons and daughters who survived these heinous crimes carry high rates of most dramatic stress disorder and suicide. i believe that if the mjia is pass it will save lives and were puzzled affect the lives of survivors, both victims and their family. no one should have to worry about retaliation from their chain of command when they report these crimes. retaliation happens so often that a majority of these assaults one reported. every military victim of sexual assault deserves due process. professional treatment by a

trained military individual and equal opportunity to seek and to receive jessica our military has promised improvements and has adequate time in which to improve that the numbers show that the military has failed to live up to its promise. the department of defense has admitted that it may no progress since 2012 but it's time with a chain of command to be removed from decision-making in sexual assault cases and replaced by those trained nonbiased military personnel educated in the law and experience in handling sexual assault cases. further, mjia specifically carves out a sexual assault in a vicious crimes with women of further -- a crimes being left in the chain of command. please hold the military to a higher standard i'm voting yes to an unbiased military system. we have to listen to our victims, our survivors, the men and women who will give their lives to this country who will

sacrifice anything for this country. america's military, if they do these reforms will have fewer dangerous criminals and far more heroes. the brave men and women we've sentset to work to keep us safe deserve nothing less than a just assistant equal to their sacrifice. by listening to the victims we can deliver that. i urge everyone here listen to our brave survivors, support our bill and do the right thing. i now would like to yield the floor to one of the authors of the military justice improvement act, the senator from iowa. >> i think senator gillibrand for her leadership in this area over a long period of time and i add my voice to support of her amendment. she's been a great leader on the

issue. as you see, she's got a lot of passion, dogged pursuit of justice. last year when i spoke in favor of this nature, i made the point that this was not a new issue that required further study, or incremental reforms. we had been hearing promises for years and years that they would be zero tolerance and a real crackdown on military sexual assault. last year the national defense authorization act included a lot of commonsense reforms, but it did not include any fundamental reform of the military justice system. we were told to give these new adjustment to the current system a chance to work and come back next year. at the time i made the point that we already tried working within the current system, to no

avail. i'm not one to advocate for major, sweeping reform is less will address the problem. but what we've been doing has not worked there last year after congress passed a package of more modest reforms but not our military justice improvement act amendment the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, general dempsey, said quote, we've been given about a year to demonstrate both that we will treat this with the urgency it deserves and that we can take that we can turn the trend lines in a more positive direction end of quote. he made clear that if we didn't see real progress he wouldn't stand in the way of more major reforms. well, we have not seen significant movement. in terms of the number of sexual assault cases and the shocking

rate of retaliation against those who report we simply don't see progress. that's probably because the current system is part of the problem. the fact that victims of sexual assault cannot turn to an independent system to get justice, combined with a very real fear of retaliation acts as a terrible deterrent to reporting sexual assault. if sexual assault cases are not reported they then cannot be prosecuted. if sexual assault isn't prosecuted, it leads to creditors remaining in the military editor section that this sort of activity is going to be tolerated. by allowing the situation to continue, we are putting at risk the men and women who have

volunteered to place their lives on the line. we are also seriously damaging military morale and readiness. taking prosecutions out of the hands of commanders and giving them to professional prosecutors for independent of the chain of command will help ensure impartial justice for the men and women of our armed forces. this would in no way take away the ability of commanders to punish the troops under their command for military and fractions. commanders also can and should be held accountable for the climate under their command. but the point here is the sexual assault is a law enforcement matter not a military one. this isn't some reform that came out of the blue either. we have an advisory committee

appointed by the secretary defends himself, came out in support of reforms. on september 27, 2013 the defense advisory committee on women in the services i think it goes by the acronym dacowits or something like that, this committee voted overwhelmingly in support of each of the components of the military justice improvement act amendment. dacowits was greeted way back in 19 been created way back in 1951 by dnssec of defense george c. marshall. the committee is composed of civilian and retired military men and women who were appointed by the second of defense to provide advice and recommendations on matters and policies relating to the recruitment and retention, treatment, employment, integration and well being of

highly qualified professional women in the armed forces. historically this committee's recommendations have been very instrumental in effecting changes to laws and policies pertaining to military women. the bottom line is this isn't some advocacy group for fly-by-night panel. it's a long-standing advisory committee hand-picked by the secretary of defense, and support the substance of our amendment to a t. we've tried reforming the current system and it didn't work. and we're talking about something as serious and life altering as sexual assault, we cannot afford to wait any longer. so i urge my colleagues to join us in supporting this amendment. but this isn't, as we approach

this from the outside, it gives me an opportunity to reiterate what i see so wrong in so many bureaucracies. we are always promised change, but as i look back over a couple, three decades of this problem of the culture of the various bureaucracies, nothing really happens from within. it's got to happen from without. and in this particular case of national defense, being the number one responsibility of the federal government, this change has to happen from without because it hasn't happened from within, regardless of the promises. i yield the floor. >> the senator from missouri. >> mr. president, first i ask unanimous consent that major record number, be granted for privileges for the remainder of the year. >> without objection. >> mr. president, last year we

gathered here to debate this issue. and i think it's important to point out that everyone in this body has the same heart when it comes to this issue. and that is that we want to make sure that victims that are assaulted in our military are protected and supported, that the system is highly trained and professional, that perpetrators have due process but also i put in prison if the system finds them guilty. the difference is an honest policy differences over which system would better accomplish those goals. now we have agreed on so much and i think it's important to point out, the work at ethic on this is done reforming sexual assault in the military. last year we had over 26 different provisions that were enacted into law. this year we haven't stopped up with 13 more provisions in this piece of legislation.

there is a disagreement over which the system would protect victims better. the historic reforms commanders have been stripped from their ability to overturn convictions. they are being held accountable. every victim who now reports, reports now gets their own independent lawyer to protect their rights and fight for their interests. it's now a crime for any member to retaliate against the victim who supports, who reports a sexual assault. and dozens and dozens more. and yes, there were panels that looked at this issue. one that was just referenced by my colleague from of was dacowits. they heard no witnesses from expert witness. they heard a brief presentation by myself at senator gillibrand but they didn't spend days on it whereas assistance response to put in place by this congress spent weeks and weeks examining this.

heard from dozens and dozens of witnesses, every side of the issue. and by the way, this panel was made up of a majority of civilian, majority women. and it voted overwhelmingly to reject an approach that removes commanders from their responsibility and their duties and, therefore, better accountability. one of the members of this commission is the woman who runs the victims and at the department of justice for the entire country. her quote i went into this thinking center to gillibrand legislation makes sense but when you hear the facts come it just doesn't hold up. she was enjoyed by a liberal icon, a feminist icon who was the author of the rape shield statute here in the kind of congress when she served as a representative. she, too, spoke out saying once she understood assistant and understood the facts, she agreed

that keeping commanders accountable was crucial for now have we seen progress? it is one thing to have anecdotal information. it is another to have it statistically valid survey. the same survey that shows that retaliation is to a separate problem that we can't give up on also showed some very important data. so if you're going to argue that retaliation is a continuing to prop up your relying on the same survey that tells us the following. incidents are down. that's meaningful progress. jumping -- dropping 29% just in the last two years. reporting continues to go up which was our stated goal as we began these reforms. reports are up 71st -- 70% from 2012. back in 2012 only one in 10 victims were reported. we have that down to one in

four. that is not spent. that is facts. -- spend. these victims are coming forward because they have renewed confidence that it will have support that they would get good information. and if the system is stacked against them. increased reporting occurred in all categories. a number of unrestricted reports are up, and restricted reports are of the and importantly the number of reports that victims converted from restricted to unrestricted. furthermore, they went around the country and did focus groups with victims. this wasn't the military, this wasn't the department of justice can this was the rand corporation that is well-known for its ability to do statistical information. went around the country and did focus groups, 11 different focus groups on different bases just victims and asked victims to come forward and participate in the survey. and this is really important, mr. president 82% agreed at the

unit commander supported them. 73% were satisfied with the unit commanders response, and 73% said they would recommend others report if they were a victim of sexual assault and this is will import. the gillibrand amendment does nothing to combat retaliation. the recent rand study found that the madrid of reported retaliation does not come from commanders to it comes from peers. this is a culture problem we have to get after and certainly i would stand ready to work with senator gillibrand, senator grassley on all of my colleagues to look and see what we have to do to get at this peer-to-peer retaliation which was the vast majority of what was reported. and, finally the gillibrand amendment action weakens punishment for the kind of retaliation by moving retaliation from article 92 the article 93 of the ucmj it would actually reduce the maximum punishment for this crime. and it finally prohibits the

resources necessary to get at this problem. a amendment says we cannot add any additional resources to get after this. historic reforms have been made. they are working based on data. and talking to dozens and dozens of prosecutors and untold victims come as a former prosecutor who cares nothing more cares nothing more than taking care of victims and making sure they have due process and are respected and deferred to. i must urge this body to reject the gillibrand approach which removes commanders from being held accountable whether they must be held accountable. thank you, mr. president. i urge a no vote on the gillibrand amendment. >> mr. president? >> the senator from new york. >> i would like to respond to the last point and the first point that my colleague made that somehow this reform next commanders less responsible --

>> the senators are advised that all time for debate has expired. >> i ask unanimous consent to continue the debate for five minutes. >> is there objection? without objection. >> thank you. so this statement that somehow commanders are removed from responsibility and that we are not keeping commanders responsible that couldn't be farther from the truth. .. level. the unit commander is responsible for good order and discipline. every aspect of the chain of command is responsible. it is their job to train troops, to maintain good order and discipline to prevent rapes and crimes being committed under their command and to punish retaliation. they have failed in that duty. in this chain of command 97% of commanders are responsible and do not have the convening