87R7895 TBO-D     By: Morales of Harris, Neave, et al. 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.