Washington, DC – Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21), Chair of the Democratic Women’s Working Group (DWWG), issued the following statement after the text of the PRIVATE Act passed as part of the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The PRIVATE Act is bipartisan legislation that makes it illegal for military members to share explicit photos of others without consent. This legislation was initiated in response to the Marines United Facebook page scandal where male Marines posted hundreds of nude and intimate photos of female servicemembers and veterans without their consent.

“As a proud mother of a Marine war veteran, I know firsthand the selfless sacrifices of those who put on the uniform. Passage of the PRIVATE Act in NDAA tells the female warriors who were violated by the shameful sharing of explicit photos that we stand with them. This legislation protects the privacy of all our military personnel and holds those who violate our trust accountable.”

The Democratic Working Women’s Group brought attention to the photo sharing scandal with a hearing that included testimony from two female Marines whose intimate photos were posted by fellow Marines on Facebook without permission. They described their experience of vitriolic harassment by their Marine brothers that followed with threats of rape and violence. Rep. Frankel joined with Congresswomen Jackie Speier (CA-14-D) and Martha McSally (AZ-2-R) to support the PRIVATE Act. Senators Claire McCaskill, Dean Heller and Joni Ernst introduced similar legislation in the Senate. It was included in NDAA and now goes to the Senate for passage before being sent to President Trump’s desk to be signed.

WATCH Rep Frankel speak about the PRIVATE Act on the House floor.

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