United States 119th Congress Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 1 D · 1 R cosponsors

S 4877 — Military Sexual Trauma Accountability Act

Last action — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced June 24, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

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Prognosis

Advancing 34% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 2 sponsors

    1 primary, 1 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (1 D · 1 R) — cross-party backing.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

This bill addresses accountability for military sexual trauma incidents.

The bill seeks to establish accountability standards for cases of military sexual trauma. It aims to improve responses to these incidents within the military.

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

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Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill establishes the ability to bring claims against the United States for military sexual trauma, including failure to prevent or investigate such misconduct.

  • 28 U.S.C. Chapter 171

    Sec. 2681. Claims against the United States for military sexual trauma (a) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Covered individual.--The term `covered individual' means-- (A) a member of the Armed Forces, including a reserve component, who is serving on active duty or active Guard and Reserve duty (as those terms are defined in paragraphs (1) and (6), respectively, of section 101(d) of title 10); (B) a member of the National Guard who is serving on full-time National Guard duty (as that term is defined in section 101(d)(5) of title 10); or (C) a member of a reserve component or the Space Force while performing inactive-duty training (as that term is defined in section 101(d)(7) of title 10). (2) Member of the armed forces.--The term `Armed Forces' has the meaning given the term in section 101(a)(4) of title 10. (3) Reserve component.--The term `reserve component' means a component specified in section 10101 of title 10. (4) Sexual misconduct.--The term `sexual misconduct' means-- (A) wrongful broadcast or distribution of intimate visual images punishable under section 917a of title 10 (article 117a of the Uniform Code of Military Justice); (B) rape (as that term is defined in section 920(a) of title 10 (article 120(a) of the Uniform Code of Military Justice)); (C) sexual assault (as that term is defined in section 920(b) of title 10 (article 120(b) of the Uniform Code of Military Justice)); (D) aggravated sexual contact (as that term is defined in section 920(c) of title 10 (article 120(c) of the Uniform Code of Military Justice)); (E) abusive sexual contact (as that term is defined in section 920(d) of title 10 (article 120(d) of the Uniform Code of Military Justice)); (F) other sexual misconduct punishable under section 920c of title 10 (article 120c of the Uniform Code of Military Justice); and (G) the standalone offense of sexual harassment punishable under section 934 of title 10 (article 134 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice). (b) Claims.--An individual may bring suit against the United States for injury or death arising, while such individual was a member of the Armed Forces, including a reserve component, from-- (1) sexual misconduct committed by a covered individual; and (2)(A) the negligent failure to prevent such sexual misconduct; (B) the negligent failure to investigate such sexual misconduct; or (C) any other such wrongful or negligent actions that contributed to the sexual misconduct alleged. (c) No Reduction for Certain Benefits.--A claim under this section shall not be reduced by the amount of any health care or benefit provided under a provision of law administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs or the Secretary of Defense. (d) Limitations Period.--Notwithstanding section 2401(b), a claim brought under this section shall have a 5-year statute of limitations beginning on the date any such claim accrues. (e) Procedures.--For purposes of claims brought under this section-- (1) subsections (a), (h), (j), and (k) of section 2680 do not apply; and (2) the filing period under subsection (d) shall be tolled during the pendency of any investigation or proceeding related to the alleged sexual misconduct underlying the claim.

    This addition allows individuals to sue the United States for military sexual trauma incidents.

  • 28 U.S.C. Chapter 171

    Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 2681. Claims against the United States for military sexual trauma.

    This amendment updates the statutory table of sections to include the new section 2681.

Action History

  1. Introduced in Senate

  2. Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 545 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (1)

Not signed on (545)

545 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 545 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

civil-rights veterans
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors S 4877?
S 4877 is sponsored by Shaheen, Jeanne (Democratic) and Kennedy, John (Republican).
What is the current status of S 4877?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced June 24, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track S 4877?
Track S 4877 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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