U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly, D-In., joined a chorus of lawmakers on the Armed Services Committee who berated top military leaders over the rise of sexual assault in the armed forces.
In recent months, a series of reports have uncovered a spike in rape and other sexual assault cases against men and women that have been called "terrifying" and a "cancer" despite efforts to curb the problem.
Last month, a study conducted by The Pentagon showed a 35 percent increase in estimated sexual abuse incidents in 2012 compared to 2010.
Speaking at the committee hearing on Tuesday, Donnelly told military commanders they have an obligation to address stop sexual assault and to provide for the psychological needs of survivors.
"I was at the Indy 500 a week before the race, and we inducted a couple hundred men and women into the service. And I want to be able to know when I look them in the eyes, that I can keep my obligation to tell them that you can serve our country, serve with dignity, have your dignity respected, and that’s what we’re trying to do," Donnelly said.
Ahead of Memorial Day weekend, U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly, D-In., has introduced a bill to create a monument commemorating the armed service members in the first Gulf War conflict.
The legislation is being co-sponsored by Senator John Boozman, R-Az., and would authorize the government to establish the National Desert Storm and Desert Shield Memorial on federal lands within Washington, D.C.
It has been over 20 years since U.S. troops were sent into Iraq to defend the country of Kuwait, and many observers say is long overdue for a landmark.
Indiana Sen. Joe Donnelly says Syrian opposition leaders he met with last week told him they don't want American troops involved in their civil war against President Bashar Assad's forces.
The Democratic senator spoke with reporters after his weeklong trip with other senators that included a stop at Syrian refugee camps in Turkey and visits with Indiana National Guard units in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Following a number of Democrats, freshman Senator Joe Donnelly of Indiana says he now supports marriage equality for gay and lesbian couples.
The Friday announcement comes days after other Democratic senators such as Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Tom Carper of Delaware came out in support of gay marriage. Fellow freshman Democratic Senator Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota also said she now favors same-sex unions.
A petition launched by MoveOn.org this week urged Donnelly to rethink his views, and just last week a spokesperson told WFPL the Indiana Democrat was steadfast that such unions were reserved for a man and a woman only.
"In recent years, our country has been involved in an important discussion on the issue of marriage equality. While serving in the House of Representatives, I had the opportunity to act on a core belief of mine: we are a stronger country when we draw on the strengths of all Americans. I voted to repeal ‘don't ask, don't tell’ and was an original supporter of the bill that would make it illegal to discriminate against someone in the workplace because of their sexual orientation.
