Debate about how to handle military sexual assault started on the Senate floor Wednesday morning, with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand seeking 60 votes for her Military Justice Improvement Act. Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy became the amendment's 51st public supporter in a statement concluding "Given the long history of sexual assault in the military, it is time for us to take a leap of faith and move forward with a new approach to solving this vexing and chronic problem." He was soon followed by Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown making it 52.

Making the case for having decisions about prosecuting major crimes like sexual assault be made by military prosecutors, not military commanders:

“Victims feel they will not get justice,” Gillibrand said on the Senate floor. “If you don’t create a transparent, accountable system outside of the chain of command your hope of victims reporting … it’s not there, the hope is not there.”

Another amendment, from Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill and Republican Sen. Kelly Ayotte, would seek to address sexual assault in the military while leaving prosecution decisions with commanders, tweaking a failed system around the edges rather than seeking major change. Gillibrand's amendment could get a vote as early as Wednesday evening, but could also be held up.

Tell Congress to protect victims of military sexual assault by supporting the Military Justice Improvement Act.