87R7895 TBO-D
 
  By: Morales of Harris H.C.R. No. 51
 
 
 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
         WHEREAS, The brutal murder of Vanessa Guillén and the
  reaction from service members on social media highlight the
  military's inadequate response to sexual harassment, sexual
  assault, and missing persons; and
         WHEREAS, Fort Hood soldier Vanessa Guillén had been missing
  for more than two months before her remains were discovered, and the
  murder investigation received widespread attention when law
  enforcement identified the suspect, a fellow military member whom
  Guillén was planning to formally accuse of sexual harassment; this
  prompted countless members of the U.S. military to share their
  personal experiences of sexual harassment and sexual assault on
  social media with the hashtag #IAmVanessaGuillen; and
         WHEREAS, A close look at current military laws and policies
  reveals concerning flaws, including conflicts of interest when
  commanding officers make charging decisions, investigations being
  made by untrained service members, and limited options for
  reporting sexual harassment; too many military members have been
  failed by this system, and immediate action is imperative to avoid
  another tragedy; and
         WHEREAS, To correct these issues, the I am Vanessa Guillén
  Act has been introduced in Congress with bipartisan support from
  the U.S. House of Representatives; if passed, the legislation would
  ensure that necessary changes are made, such as transferring
  charging decisions for sex-related offenses to a chief prosecutor,
  requiring independent investigations that are conducted by trained
  investigators, and establishing a confidential reporting option
  for sexual harassment that can convert to a formal complaint at any
  time; in addition, it would direct the Government Accountability
  Office to evaluate response procedures relating to missing service
  members; and
         WHEREAS, The brave men and women who fight for our nation
  deserve access to justice, and Congress should listen to the
  service members calling for change in the aftermath of Vanessa
  Guillén's murder; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the 87th Legislature of the State of Texas
  hereby respectfully urge the Congress of the United States to pass
  the I am Vanessa Guillén Act; and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official
  copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to
  the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of
  Representatives of the United States Congress, and to all the
  members of the Texas delegation to Congress with the request that
  this resolution be entered in the Congressional Record as a
  memorial to the Congress of the United States of America.