Charting A New Course

Floor Speech

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Mr. BEAN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, how would you explain to General George S. Patton that an American President believes a drag show digital ambassador gives our military a strategic advantage?

It sounds absurd, but what is even more absurd is it is true.

The United States military is the greatest fighting force in the world. America's warfighters risk their lives so we can all be free. They are driven by patriotism and a sense of service and honor.

Yet, since the outset of this administration, we have seen our servicemen and -women, the source of our strength and national security, sacrificed on the altar of wokeness. Meanwhile, our adversaries are aggressively undermining American interests around the globe as danger knocks on our front door.

As we speak, Mr. Speaker, China is creating an outpost just over 90 miles from the Florida coast. It is all part of China's long game.

It is why they have been stealing our stuff, intellectual property from Americans, buying farmland near our military bases, invading our airspace with a spy balloon, and infiltrating our education system.

While this administration has been obsessed with culture wars, China has been focused on defeating America.

While West Point was teaching cadets about preferred pronouns, China has been focused on defeating America.

While this administration was funneling taxpayer dollars to host drag queen story hours on military bases, China has been focused on defeating America.

Our military exists to provide for the common defense of our Nation, not parroting woke insanity. These far-left policies, Mr. Speaker, have harmed recruitment, retention, and morale.

It has undermined our military readiness and wasted precious time and taxpayer dollars, but House Republicans have a plan to chart a new and different course.

The 2024 National Defense Authorization Act puts an end to taxpayer dollars funding critical race theory teaching, guts diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, and eliminates taxpayer-funded drag shows, story hours, and digital ambassador programs. It prevents the authorization of a military Green New Deal.

Under the leadership of Speaker McCarthy, House Republicans are focused on honoring the legacy of our Nation's veterans, like the 72,000 who call the Fourth District of Florida home, and ensuring our military is lethal and ready because woke politics won't stop a single bullet or a communist invasion.

We, the people, deserve a military that doesn't cater to any other credo other than America first.

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