WASHINGTON, D.C. – The family of Spc. Vanessa Guillén and congressional leaders are still working to keep her name alive in an effort to seek justice for her death and claims of sexual harassment while serving in the U.S. Army.
The official introduction of the #IamVanessaGuillen bill took place Wednesday at noon with the Guillén family and Attorney Khawam on The House Triangle at the U.S. Capitol in D.C.
Rep Speier’s I am Vanessa Guillen Act Introduction
Posted by Congresswoman Jackie Speier on Wednesday, September 16, 2020
The family hopes Congress, the Senate, and President Trump show support for the bill, which aims to protect those who are suffering from sexual harassment happening in the armed forces and while holding the aggressors accountable for their actions.
Vanessa Guillen timeline: These are the dates to know about her case
“The bill responds to resounding calls for change by revolutionizing the military’s response to missing service members and reports of sexual harassment-assault by making sexual harassment a crime within the Uniform Code of Military Justice and moving prosecution decisions of sexual assault and sexual harassment cases out of the chain of command,” a caption for the official Find Vanessa Guillen Instagram page said. “We have to protect our protectors, those soldiers are giving their life to serve the nation and to protect us.”
Guillen’s death has been called a #MeToo moment for the military. The 20-year-old was bludgeoned to death at Fort Hood by a fellow soldier, investigators say. She was last seen in April and was listed as missing for six weeks before the Army released details. The soldier suspected in Guillen’s slaying, Spc. Aaron Robinson, died by suicide on July 1 as police were trying to take him into custody. The Army has confirmed that remains found near Leon River in Bell County were Guillen’s.
KPRC 2′s Amanda Cochran contributed to this report.