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Dayton, Ohio 45402
Tel: 937.223.8177
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News Release
April 18, 2011
Merle Wilberding Participates in Congressional Press Conference on New Legislation
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| Merle Wilberding Niki Tsongas Mike Turner
Coolidge Wall Congresswoman Congressman Dayton Ohio (D. Massachusetts) (R. Ohio) Press Conference in Room 2216 of the Rayburn Office Building |
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Merle F. Wilberding was invited by Congressman Mike Turner (R. Ohio) to participate in a press conference on Wednesday, April 13, 2011, to announce the introduction of the Defense Sexual Trauma Response, Oversight and Good Governance Act (The Defense STRONG Act). Mike Turner and Niki Tsongas (D. Massachusetts) were co-sponsors of the legislation. The legislation was inspired in part by the tragic murder of Marine LCpL Maria Lauterbach in 2007 and the subsequent discovery of her body in a fire pit in the backyard of fellow Marine Cpl Cesar Laurean. For the past four years, Coolidge attorneys, Merle Wilberding and Chris Conard, have represented Mary Lauterbach, the mother of Maria, through the criminal and civil investigations and proceedings, as well as providing support and guidance to her in the efforts to focus on the problems of sexual assault in the military by changes in legislation and changes in enforcement and culture. The four speakers at the press conference were Congressman Mike Turner, Congresswoman Niki Tsongas, Anu Bhagwati, the Executive Director of the Service Women’s Action Network, and Merle Wilberding. To read the complete transcript of the press conference please click on the following link: Full Transcript |