National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020
Floor Speech
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Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Chair, I want to first thank my colleague from California for her work to undo the damage the President has done to transgender servicemembers and our Armed Forces.
This ban endangers transgender soldiers and tells all transgender Americans that they are not fit to serve their country. The Harry Truman amendment will reverse the President's harmful ban and protect transgender soldiers from further discrimination.
Though the administration cited concerns over readiness, unit cohesion, and medical costs to justify its ban, it has been unable to back up its claims.
Mr. Chair, transgender troops have served openly at home, overseas, and in combat zones since 2016 without incident, a finding supported by the Chief of Staff of every service branch.
The Truman amendment extends Federal protections to transgender soldiers and makes it unlawful to exclude anyone from service based on their gender identity.
Transgender servicemembers, as my colleague noted, testified in the House that serving openly dramatically improved their quality of life and their service to our country.
Mr. Chair, I urge a ``yes'' vote on this amendment.
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Mrs. DAVIS of California. Madam Chair, I rise today to support the amendment offered by my colleague from California (Ms. Speier). It provides our servicemembers with medically accurate educational resources to help prevent unintended pregnancies and the spread of sexually transmitted infections.
The courageous Americans who put their lives on the line for our country deserve the best wellness education we can offer, and keeping them healthy helps maximize our military's readiness.
This commonsense amendment is recommended by the Pentagon's nonpartisan Defense Department Advisory Committee on Women in the Services, and, therefore, there should be broad bipartisan support. I encourage my colleagues who support our troops to vote for it.
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