Washington, D.C.- Congressman Mike Turner sent a letter today to Inspector General Gordon Heddell demanding a progress report on the state of their efforts to investigate the circumstances surrounding the sexual assault, harassment, and subsequent murder of Lance Corporal Maria Lauterbach. Congressman Turner, the Ranking Member of the Strategic Forces Subcommitee of the House Armed Services Committee, also questioned witnesses at a hearing today on the issue of sexual assault prevention in the military while accompanied by Maria’s mother, Mary Lauterbach.
“We have been in contact with the Secretary of Defense, the office of the Inspector General, and have simply not gotten any answers or any real update on their progress since it was initiated,” Congressman Turner said. “The time for action on this issue is now. I am committed to working with the House Armed Services Committee to get answers for the Lauterbach family and better protection for the fine people that make up the United States military.”
Congressman Turner has been a member of the House Armed Services Committee since taking office in 2003 and introduced legislation yesterday calling on the Department of Defense to overhaul their procedures dealing with reports of sexual assault. His legislation was co-authored with Congresswoman Jane Harman (D-CA) and was also introduced in the 110th Congress.