OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025

Floor Speech

Date: June 13, 2024
Location: Washington, DC


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Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

This amendment would prevent the Secretary of Defense from creating any new DEI positions or filling any vacant DEI positions within the Department of Defense. Over the last few years, the DEI bureaucracy across the Department of Defense has infiltrated every unit, command, and school.

Even as much of the country recognizes that the ideology of DEI is opposed to a society based on merit, the Department of Defense has dug in its heels. From transgender Pride patches on military uniforms to DEI steering committees at DODEA schools and a record $162 million dedicated to DEI activities in the President's FY25 budget, these activities continue to indoctrinate and divide.

Elevating immutable characteristics like race and color over all other factors is blatantly discriminatory. It harms public confidence in our military and makes us a less lethal fighting force.

For our national security, we must uphold the ideals of our country and put merit, hard work, dedication, and service above all. To do this, we must eliminate the DEI apparatus.

Mr. Chair, I urge all Members to support this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Chair, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Chairman, first of all, I find it amazing that people feel your viewpoint in life is based on where your ancestors came from 100 years ago or 200 years ago.

This amendment ensures the Department of Defense can uphold our Nation's values that no matter your race, color, sex, political beliefs, or ethnicity, you may excel.

This amendment sends not just a message to the Department that this form of racism is intolerable, but it also stops the excessive growth of an industry within the DOD that has wasted resources and which has no benefits for our national security.

Mr. Chair, I urge all Members to support, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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