Establishes April of each year as "Military Sexual Trauma Awareness Month" in NJ.

SJR72

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

No. 72

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED JANUARY 28, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� KRISTIN M. CORRADO

District 40 (Bergen, Essex and Passaic)

SYNOPSIS

���� Establishes April of each year as �Military Sexual
Trauma Awareness Month� in NJ.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

A Joint
Resolution

establishing the month of
April of each year as �Military Sexual Trauma Awareness Month� in New Jersey.

Whereas,

Military sexual trauma (MST) is a pervasive problem within military
communities; and

Whereas,

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) defines MST as sexual assault or
sexual harassment experienced during military service, including, but not
limited to, being pressured or coerced into sexual activities, experiencing
sexual contact without explicit consent such as when an individual is asleep or
intoxicated, or receiving unwanted sexual advances; and

Whereas,

Using national data from its health screening program, the VA found that one in
three female veterans and one in 50 male veterans report having experienced
MST; and

Whereas,

In FY 2021, the Department of Defense (DOD) received its highest
number of sexual assault reports on record with one in five active-duty service
members having experienced MST; and

Whereas,

The DOD estimates that the prevalence rate of MST may be higher than reported,
citing survey results that found that 60 percent of female service members did
not trust the sexual assault reporting process enough to file incident reports
after experiencing MST; and

Whereas,

Active service members and veterans who have experienced MST are at an
increased risk of developing adverse health conditions, namely post-traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders; and

Whereas,

In 2022, a behavioral science team at the RAND Corporation found that service
members with mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD
reported higher levels of absenteeism from duty and higher levels of
occupational impairment; and

Whereas,

As a result, MST could negatively impact the overall performance of our
nation�s military, making MST a potential threat to troop stability and
national security; and

Whereas,

As of 2021, New Jersey had an active-duty population of 6,461 and, as of 2018, a
veteran population of 350,538; and

Whereas,

An unknown number of these active-duty or veteran service members have
experienced some form of MST and must now contend with adverse health
conditions; and

Whereas,

Although April currently serves as Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention
Month, there is no official month to acknowledge the struggle against or to raise
awareness of sexual violence in the military; and

Whereas,

By establishing April of each year as �Military Sexual Trauma Awareness Month,�
the State of New Jersey recognizes its active-duty and veteran communities who
have experienced MST, while affirming its commitment to combat sexual violence;
now, therefore,

����
Be It
Resolved
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� The month of April of
each year is established as �Military Sexual Trauma Awareness Month� to promote
awareness of sexual violence in the military, recognize the struggles of active
service members and veterans who have experienced military sexual trauma, and
strengthen New Jersey�s commitment to combat sexual violence.

���� 2.��� The Governor may
annually issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and citizens of the
State to observe �Military Sexual Trauma Awareness Month� with appropriate
activities and programs.

���� 3.��� This joint resolution
shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This joint resolution
establishes the month of April of each year as �Military Sexual Trauma
Awareness Month� to raise awareness of sexual violence in the military,
recognize the struggles of active service members and veterans who have
experienced military sexual trauma (MST), and strengthen New Jersey�s
commitment to combat sexual violence. �MST refers to sexual assault or sexual
harassment experienced during military service. �According to the United States
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), one in three female veterans and one in 50
male veterans report having experienced MST. �A survey conducted by the
Department of Defense (DOD) supplemented these findings. �In FY 2021, the DOD
received its highest number of sexual assault reports on record with one in
five active-duty service members having experienced MST. �In reality, the DOD
estimates that the prevalence rate of MST may be higher, citing concerns over
underreporting due to a lack of trust in the sexual assault report process.

���� �Those who have experienced
MST are at an increased risk of developing adverse health conditions, namely
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and other mood
disorders. �A 2022 study conducted by the RAND Corporation found that mental
health conditions such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression were strongly
associated with higher levels of absenteeism from duty and greater occupational
impairment. �As a result, MST compromises both the personal wellbeing of active
service members and veterans and the overall quality of military performance.

���� New Jersey has an active-duty
population of 6,461 and a veteran population of 350,538. �Many of these
individuals might have experienced military sexual trauma. Currently, April
serves as National Sexual Assault Awareness Prevention Month. �However, there
is no official month to recognize the struggle against or raise awareness of
sexual violence in the military. �In recognition of New Jersey�s active-duty
and veteran communities who may have experienced MST, this joint resolution
establishes April of each year as �Military Sexual Trauma Awareness Month.�