The hearing follows a series of sexual assault scandals and recent Pentagon data revealing a significant increase in unwanted sexual contact within the military. Top military officers from various branches, along with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee to address the issue and assure Congress of their commitment to addressing the problem. While some lawmakers, like Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, are pushing for changes that would remove prosecution of sex crimes from the victim's chain of command, others, like General Raymond Odierno, argue that maintaining the power of commanders is crucial for unit cohesion and swift justice. Critics of the military's handling of sexual assault cases believe that radical change is necessary, especially in light of the significant increase in reported cases. Despite concerns raised by Congress, some lawmakers, like Senator Carl Levin, are sympathetic to the military's stance on maintaining the power of the chain of command in addressing these issues. Levin stated that the only group with the power to implement a zero-tolerance policy for sexual offenses is the chain of command. Additionally, only the chain of command possesses the necessary authority to address any issues within the command climate that may promote or condone sexual assaults.