Announcement By the Acting Chair

Floor Speech

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Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

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Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Chair, I don't get this whole woke reference, but I am definitely awake after what I have heard on this floor today.

During our markup, we heard repeatedly that the PRC and Russia--even today we heard it--they aren't spending their troops' time on DEI. I absolutely agree with you. They aren't.

The strongest military possible, the one we aim to be, the one we are, is a diverse, equitable, and inclusive one.

When you compare our military with those of our competitors, what is immediately striking is the diversity of our servicemembers.

Studies have long shown and demonstrated that diversity helps organizations out-innovate, outperform, out-strategize, outmaneuver others.

Our diversity is our strength. Our commitment to equality, to exclusiveness, that is what makes us Americans. It is why we have the very best military in the world.

Some House Republicans insist on peddling a false choice between DEI and readiness. Why are they so keen on emulating and becoming more like the PRC, more like Russia?

Eliminating DEI won't help our military compete more effectively with the PRC. It will, however, undermine the innovative thinking, the cultural competency, the inclusive institutional cultures, the qualitative edge, our ability to win if we need to be agile and ready and lethal.

This amendment to terminate DEI offices and personnel and all of the insidious DEI-related amendments we have had to hear and will hear tonight by my Republican colleagues aren't just harmful to our national security--they are a major threat.

It is time we set aside the political games that we are seeing and get serious about our national security and stand by our servicemen and -women of all backgrounds who have given up so much in defense of our country and to keep all of us safe.

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Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Smith).

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Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Chair, I yield an additional 15 seconds to the gentleman from Washington.

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Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Chair, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining.

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Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. McClellan).
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Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Chair, in closing, I just have one question to ask: What about us scares you?

My grandfather, my father-in-law, and my brother all fought and risked their lives for this country. Yet, the sacrifices made by so many who feel marginalized, our communities of color, simply pale in comparison to the hate and fear that drives this obsession with DEI.

First and foremost, we just heard that under a strong administration like the Trump administration, you would not have this. However, DEI is not new. In 2020, the Trump administration established a Defense Board and a Defense Advisory Committee on Diversity and Inclusion to increase diversity and ensure equitable opportunity across all ranks.

If you want to be more like China, if you want to be more like Russia, keep this up. I don't want to be like them. DEI is necessary.

Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

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Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

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Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Chair, you know, it has been said once already on this floor, but I don't think it can be said enough. If we ever, ever needed a reason to support DEI training, you need look no further than the debates, the antics that we have seen on this floor today, the childish, yes, actions that we have heard from the other side.

In fact, from the backwards, racially insensitive comments spoken on this floor, it seems DEI training would be good right here in the Halls of Congress.

Mr. Chair, we have spent hours in markup already debating DEI, but apparently it wasn't enough. So here we are again forced to debate yet another bad amendment.

Never mind that 40 percent of our servicemembers identify as members of minority groups, or that 42 percent of servicemembers of color turn down assignments because of concerns about racism and discrimination that they have experienced.

Never mind that almost half of all servicemembers in a recent survey said they have been the subject of racial slurs or jokes in their communities.

To say that we do not need DEI is to say racism and discrimination does not exist in our military and in our society.

For the sponsor of this amendment to be proud of taking a meat cleaver to DEI flies in the face of all Americans and the diversity that we represent.

What this reckless amendment and this obsession over DEI really exposes is a callous disregard for these servicemembers and their experiences. They deserve better. America is better than this, and I strongly urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

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