According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), approximately one in three female veterans and one in fifty male veterans reported experiencing sexual assault or harassment during their military service, which is known as military sexual trauma (MST). While that is already a staggeringly high number of service members and veterans who have experienced MST, the actual total is likely much higher as MST events are largely underreported.
 
To encourage survivors to seek support for MST, I plan to introduce legislation that would establish a Military Sexual Trauma Awareness Campaign in the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA). This campaign would seek to promote awareness of the issue of MST, as well as acceptance for survivors. The department would be tasked with spreading awareness of MST to the general public in addition to providing information about MST resources to active service members and veterans.
 
No veteran should feel alone after suffering an MST event. My legislation seeks to promote greater awareness of MST and encourage acceptance for survivors.
 
Please join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation to bring awareness to military sexual trauma.