Harry Lew and Danny Chen Military Justice Reform Act
To direct the Secretary of Defense to analyze the feasibility and advisability of establishing a separate punitive article on hazing under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and for other purposes.
This bill, HB9024, also known as the Harry Lew and Danny Chen Military Justice Reform Act, aims to address hazing within the military by establishing a separate punitive article on hazing under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Hazing refers to activities that can cause psychological or physical harm to new recruits or members of a group. The bill is named after Harry Lew and Danny Chen, who were victims of hazing.
If passed, the bill would affect all members of the military, particularly those in leadership roles who might be involved in or witness hazing incidents. The Secretary of Defense would be directed to analyze whether implementing a specific hazing article would be feasible and advisable, potentially leading to clearer guidelines and harsher penalties for hazing.
As of May 26, 2026, the bill has just been introduced in the House and referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. This is the first step in the legislative process, and it will now be reviewed and potentially debated by the committee before any further action is taken.
