WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill, a senior member of the Armed Services Committee, today released the following statement after the Senate’s passage of the annual defense bill, the National Defense Authorization Act:

“This is a win for our national security. In a time of constantly-evolving threats and priorities, we need a responsible, thorough framework for our country’s defense. This legislation further builds on our sweeping, bipartisan reforms that are changing how the military handles sexual violence, it fixes the Pentagon’s troubled POW/MIA recovery efforts, it guards against tax dollars being spent on Afghan infrastructure without any oversight, and it finally gives official designation to Kansas City’s Liberty Memorial. I’m pleased my colleagues on both sides of the aisle have gotten it across the finish line, and I look forward to the President signing it.”

McCaskill successfully won the inclusion of a number of her national security priorities into the legislation, including:

Provisions of the Victims Protection Act—a bipartisan package of additional reforms to supplement the sweeping changes passed into law by Congress last year on how the military justice system handles sexual violence. The Victims Protection Act—sponsored by McCaskill along with Republican Senators Kelly Ayotte and Deb Fischer—will:
Eliminate the “good soldier” defense for servicemembers accused of sexual assault under most circumstances,
Allow victims formal input on whether their case is tried in military or civilian court,
Allow survivors to challenge their discharge or separation from service,
Strengthen the role of the prosecutor in advising commanders on going to court-martial,
Boost accountability of commanders for setting appropriate command climate,
And extend protections to the Military Service Academies
Fixing POW/MIA recovery efforts:
Establishes a single Pentagon agency responsible for handling POW/MIA recovery and accounting efforts, which McCaskill discovered had been plagued by mismanagement and a lack of accountability
Terminating funding for unsustainable Afghan infrastructure projects:
Prohibits taxpayer funding from being used on projects in Afghanistan that cannot be overseen by American personnel
Along with Senator Roy Blunt, securing World War I memorial status for Kansas City’s Liberty Memorial:
Successfully designates the Liberty Memorial as the country’s official World War I Museum and Memorial
Establishes a World War I Memorial at Pershing Park in Washington DC, and authorizes the World War I Centennial Commission to improve and develop the site