Today, President Obama nominated former Nebraska Senator and Vietnam War veteran Chuck Hagel for Defense Secretary.  If confirmed, Hagel would replace outgoing Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, who has taken unprecedented action to combat military sexual assault over the last year—including requiring that each branch of the military overhaul training programs to improve sexual assault prevention and the investigation and prosecution of assault cases.  

During a press conference this afternoon, President Obama explained his choice by calling Hagel “the leader that our troops deserve” and a “champion of our troops,” as well as of veterans and military families.  If Hagel is going to live up to these labels, he must continue and expand upon Sec. Panetta’s work to combat military sexual assault—and he’s uniquely positioned to do so, considering that, if confirmed, he would be the first enlisted soldier to serve as Defense Secretary. 

No matter your politics, it can’t be denied that Sec. Panetta has taken some important first steps in ending rape in the military, particularly after seeing The Invisible War.  If confirmed, we must work together to make sure Sen. Hagel continues these efforts when he takes over at the Department of Defense. 

Congresswoman Niki Tsongas participated in a historic Joint House Armed Services and Veterans Affairs Committee Hearing today where Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki testified.  Each member only had 2 minutes for questioning and she used hers to make mention of The Invisible War and bring Military Sexual Trauma to the forefront of the conversation.  We were blown away and are ever so grateful for her leadership and continued support to transform the way this issue is handled within the walls of power in Washington, DC.  Congresswoman Tsongas questioned the Secretaries about legislation she authored, which was signed into law last year, to better support victims of military sexual assault as they make the transition to veteran status.