# 119-s-4877: Military Sexual Trauma Accountability Act

119-s-4877, Military Sexual Trauma Accountability Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH] (D-NH); status introduced (as of 2026-08-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4877
- As of: 2026-08-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-4877
- Congress: 119
- Title: Military Sexual Trauma Accountability Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-06-24
- Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH] (D-NH)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Law
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-08-11

## Summary

**Creates a federal civil cause of action for military sexual trauma.** This bill would let service members on active duty, full-time National Guard duty, or certain reserve or Space Force training duty sue the United States for injury or death from sexual misconduct or from negligent failures to prevent or investigate it. - Service members and survivors: Would allow suits for rape, sexual assault, aggravated sexual contact, abusive sexual contact, wrongful broadcast or distribution of intimate images, sexual harassment, and other related offenses. - Benefits and damages: Any compensation awarded would not be reduced by health care or benefits provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs or the Department of Defense. - Legal timing and procedure: Claims would face a 5-year filing limit, that filing period is tolled during related investigations or proceedings, and certain usual federal defenses would not apply.

## Cosponsors (1)

- Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA] (R-LA), 2026-06-24T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Suing U.S. for military sexual trauma: benefit, high. If enacted, you would be able to sue the United States for injury or death that happened while you were in the Armed Forces. Covered service includes active duty, active Guard and Reserve duty, full‑time National Guard duty, or certain reserve training. Qualifying offenses include wrongful broadcas…

## Related bills

- 119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act
- 119-s-3257: John A. Hauser Mental Health in Aviation Act
- 119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026
- 119-s-5025: Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026
- 119-s-4189: INSULIN Act of 2026
- 119-s-3940: Access to Fair Financing for Opportunity and Resilient Development Act

## Sources
- [119-s-4877 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/4877)

## Related
- [119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1748)
- [119-s-3257: John A. Hauser Mental Health in Aviation Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3257)
- [119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3990)
- [119-s-5025: Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5025)
- [119-s-4189: INSULIN Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4189)
- [119-s-3940: Access to Fair Financing for Opportunity and Resilient Development Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3940)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4877 (as of 2026-08-11).