The Military Sexual Trauma Accountability Act allows military members and veterans to sue the federal government for injuries or deaths caused by sexual misconduct committed by fellow service members, as well as for the military's negligent failure to prevent or investigate such misconduct. The bill covers all active duty service members, reservists, and National Guard members and applies to a broad range of sexual offenses including rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment as defined under military law. Individuals would have five years from when their claim arises to file suit, with this deadline paused during any ongoing investigation or proceeding related to the alleged misconduct. Importantly, any damages awarded would not be reduced by existing military or Veterans Affairs benefits the person may have already received. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment and applies to both future cases and past cases, with the new five-year filing period beginning on the date the law is enacted for claims that occurred before passage.
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