Opening Statements

Today, Rep. Trent Kelly (R-MS), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel, made the following remarks, as prepared for delivery, on the Subcommittee's hearing on domestic violence in the military:

"Thank you, Chairwoman Speier.

"I wish to welcome both of our panels to today's hearing. I particularly want to thank the three survivors of domestic abuse for your bravery and willingness to share your stories.

"Domestic abuse is a serious national issue. On average, nearly 20 people per minute in the United States are physically abused by a partner. Unfortunately, the military is not immune to this national problem. Domestic violence in the military has lasting negative effects on not just the family in which it occurs, but also in the military community. It is imperative that the Department of Defense have a comprehensive prevention and response program to ensure that military families have the resources needed to identify and prevent domestic abuse, and that survivors of domestic abuse have the legal, medical and behavioral health resources needed to rebuild their lives.

"As a former district attorney and city prosecutor, I have prosecuted domestic violence crimes and have put domestic abusers behind bars. I am a firm believer in education and transparency in order to prevent domestic violence situations. I know first hand how difficult these cases can be to prosecute, and how traumatic the process can be for the whole family. However, even when an assailant is successfully prosecuted, the family often continues to suffer devastating and life-long consequences. From on-going counseling to financial insecurity, it is imperative that the family receive the support they need after the criminal case has been concluded.

"No matter how many resources we provide survivors, however, our primary goal should be to prevent the domestic violence to begin with. I am encouraged that the Department has a new 'Prevention Plan of Action,' which is a comprehensive approach to prevention, including a focus on awareness and early intervention. I am also encouraged that the domestic violence response program leverages the entire scope of community-based resources.

"I look forward to hearing from our witnesses who are survivors of domestic violence about their experiences and what can be done to improve the process. I want to again thank you for your willingness to be here today. I am also interested to hear from the other witnesses on the first panel, some of whom have partnered with the Department of Defense to ensure their comprehensive prevention and response programs benefit from civilian best practices. Finally, I look forward to hearing from the Department of Defense on the current program and any new initiatives that may improve the domestic abuse prevention and response program.

"Thank you and I yield back."