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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 when |
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commanding officers make charging decisions, investigations being |
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made by untrained service members, and limited options for |
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reporting sexual harassment; too many military members have been |
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failed by this system, and immediate action is imperative to avoid |
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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 Congress with bipartisan support from |
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the U.S. House of Representatives; if passed, the legislation would |
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ensure that necessary changes are made, such as transferring |
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charging decisions for sex-related offenses to a chief prosecutor, |
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requiring independent investigations that are conducted by trained |
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investigators, and establishing a confidential reporting option |
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for sexual harassment that can convert to a formal complaint at any |
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time; in addition, it would direct the Government Accountability |
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Office to evaluate response procedures relating to missing service |
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members; 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; and, be it 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. |