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HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The brutal murder of Vanessa Guillén and the |
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reaction from service members on social media highlight the |
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military's inadequate response to sexual harassment, sexual |
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assault, and missing persons; and |
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WHEREAS, Fort Hood soldier Vanessa Guillén had been missing |
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for more than two months before her remains were discovered, and the |
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murder investigation received widespread attention when law |
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enforcement identified the suspect, a fellow military member whom |
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Guillén was planning to formally accuse of sexual harassment; this |
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prompted countless members of the U.S. military to share their |
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personal experiences of sexual harassment and sexual assault on |
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social media with the hashtag #IAmVanessaGuillen; and |
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WHEREAS, A close look at current military laws and policies |
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reveals concerning flaws, including conflicts of interest and |
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limited options for reporting sexual harassment; too many military |
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members have been failed by this system, and immediate action is |
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imperative to avoid another tragedy; and |
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WHEREAS, To correct these issues, the I am Vanessa Guillén |
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Act has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives; and |
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WHEREAS, The brave men and women who fight for our nation |
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deserve access to justice, and Congress should listen to the |
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service members calling for change in the aftermath of Vanessa |
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Guillén's murder; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 87th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby respectfully urge the Congress of the United States to pass |
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the I am Vanessa Guillén Act, legislation ensuring that necessary |
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changes are made, such as preventing conflicts of interest, |
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requiring independent investigations that are conducted by trained |
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investigators, establishing a confidential reporting option for |
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sexual harassment that can convert to a formal complaint, and |
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directing the Government Accountability Office to evaluate |
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response procedures related to missing service members; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official |
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copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to |
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the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of |
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Representatives of the United States Congress, and to all the |
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members of the Texas delegation to Congress with the request that |
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this resolution be entered in the Congressional Record as a |
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memorial to the Congress of the United States of America. |