Sexual assaults jumped by 50 percent last year

The House Armed Services Committee has endorsed the Pentagon's approach to combating sexual assault. 

In a marathon session on the fiscal 20-15 defense authorization bill the committee rejected a measure that would have stripped commanders of their power to pursue charges against those accused of sex crimes. Advocates for change want that job to go to military lawyers. 

The Pentagon says commanders must be held accountable for misconduct in their ranks. Last week, the Pentagon said reports by members of the military of sexual assaults jumped by 50 percent last year to more than 5,000 reports of abuse. 

Another amendment to the bill, from California's Duncan Hunter, maintains the status quo on other aspects of military life. He says smoking is one of the few pleasures for a battle-hardened service member and moved to pre-empt the military's efforts to clamp down on tobacco use. The bill also would prohibit the Army's new hair and grooming requirements for female soldiers, including limits on the size of twists and cornrows. Some members of the service have said they unfairly target black women.