Washington Post Fix: McCaskill one of seven women to watch at military sexual assault hearing

In today's Washington Post Fix column, reporter Chris Cillizza describes Sen. Claire McCaskill as one seven women to watch the military sexual assault hearings that begin today on Capitol Hill:

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.): A former sex crimes prosecutor, McCaskill is one of the panel’s most outspoken members on this issue and is cosponsoring a bipartisan plan to overhaul how the Pentagon handles sexual assault cases.

What’s she’s doing about it: McCaskill’s bill, cosponsored by Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Reps. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) and Niki Tsongas (D-Mass.), among others, would make it more difficult to reverse convictions for sexual assault crimes; require that people found guilty of rape, sexual assault, forcible sodomy, or an attempt to commit any of those offenses at least be dismissed or given a dishonorable discharge from the military; and remove the five-year statute of limitations on trial by courts-martial for allegations of sexual assault and sexual assault of a child.

What’s she’s saying about it: “The problems the U.S. military have had dealing with this issue — whether it’s aggressively prosecuting perpetrators or effectively protecting survivors — are well chronicled and have gone on far too long,”McCaskill said recently.  “It’s time for the reforms contained in this bill, and I’m going to work with my colleagues in both chambers and in both parties to ensure that they’re enacted.”