Gillibrand’s influence gets attention

U.S. Sen. Kirsten E. Gillibrand’s ideas are gaining attention. Not a small triumph for New York’s junior senator.

Gillibrand has made a goal of wresting the prosecution of military sexual assaults from the chain of command. Now, after eight years of effort, a bill the Democrat of New York has promoted and which has the votes to pass in the Senate, would move sexual assault cases out of the chain of command to military prosecutors with relevant expertise, as opposed to commanders who often lack legal training.

Gillibrand is lauded by colleagues of both parties for her righteous pursuit of long overdue, seismic change in how the military handles the prosecution of sexual assaults.

Gillibrand is receiving attention on more than military prosecutorial procedure. Her ideas have been emerging among President Biden’s proposals, among them the “Family Bill of Rights” she proposed during her presidential campaign two years ago; 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave, a federal boost to child care; and universal pre-k. And she introduced a bill aimed at extending the federal school lunch program into the summer.

All of these initiatives have landed in the president’s $1.8 trillion American Families Plan. Biden has declared his intention to answer those challenges by strengthening the social safety net. The fact that he incorporated some of Gillibrand’s ideas into his plan suggests a rising influence.

All are worthy of debate, but it’s fair to start with the problem of sexual assaults in the military. That measure should pass unanimously.