Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2017

Floor Speech

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Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition.

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Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Chairman, I also strongly oppose the amendment offered by my friend, Mr. Gosar. Mr. Gosar is an outstanding Member of this body and a great advocate for the great State of Arizona, but unfortunately we don't see eye to eye on this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, immigrant service in uniform shouldn't be a controversial issue. The Secretary of Defense has the statutory authority to allow any immigrant to enlist if it is in our national interest, including DACA recipients who want to fight for our country.

Simply put, we shouldn't let political posturing stand in the way of our military's recruitment goals. Our Armed Forces need the best and the brightest soldiers, marines, and airmen they can get. Countless DREAMers and other immigrants want nothing more than to serve the country they love and call home. I fought in Iraq, and I know that on the battlefield what matters is your character and your commitment, not your immigration status.

Mr. Chairman, when we vote on this amendment later this evening, I hope we all consider the long sweep of history and not just the anti- immigrant politics of this present time. Immigrants, including those who came here without the right papers, have served with distinction in both world wars. Our military was made stronger in the 1940s because these men were allowed to enlist, and our military will be made stronger in 2016 if we vote to give another generation of immigrants the chance to serve.

Mr. Chairman, the willingness to fight and die in uniform is the purest expression of our love for our country. Let's oppose this amendment and give immigrants who love America the opportunity to try to enlist in America's Armed Forces.

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

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Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

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Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Chairman, I rise to claim the time in opposition.

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Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Chairman, immigrants have been fighting in America's Armed Forces since the founding of the Republic. Many of them did not come here legally, but in countless cases we still allow them to enlist because, for most of our history, your patriotism was more important than your papers.

The amendment offered by Congressman King is inconsistent with this rich tradition of immigrant service.

DOD is currently allowing a small number of immigrants who possess critical foreign language and technical skills to join the military through a program called Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest. The amendment before us would end this important program, preventing immigrants from serving in uniform who have medical expertise, linguistic skills, and cultural knowledge that could make a difference in the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan. It is important to note that the MAVNI program is fully consistent with current law.

As the chairman of the House Committee on Armed Services, Congressman Thornberry, stated in a recent debate on this issue:

The Secretary has the authority to fill critical needs, whatever they may be, with individuals, however they may have gotten here.

It is also worth noting that, though the MAVNI program allows certain DREAMers to serve, it also makes eligible 22 other categories of immigrants, including a variety of visa holders who entered the country legally.

Finally, this amendment is contrary to our national security interests. As a proud veteran of the Iraq war, I know that the strength of our military is defined not just by the potency of our weapons, but the quality of our people. Our Armed Forces need the best soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen they can get.

Mr. Chairman, we should leave the doors of our military open to our young immigrants who love America and are willing to lay down their lives for our country.

Please join me in voting ``no'' on this misguided, mean-spirited amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

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