Disinterment of Remains of Fernando V. Cota From Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Texas
Floor Speech
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Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Speaker, the bill before us is a bipartisan compromise that continues our work to improve the quality of life of our servicemembers and their families. I thank the chair and ranking member for working so diligently to bring this forward.
At the heart of our national security are the people whose courage, skill, and integrity make every mission possible. This legislation recognizes their value with a 3.8 percent pay raise, an increase in the family separation allowance, and other provisions that will help ease the financial pressures of military families.
It also extends the Child Care in Your Home pilot through 2029 and requires annual reviews of childcare fee assistance.
We also include protections I championed for our Department of Defense civilian workforce, barring arbitrary layoffs for DODEA teachers and childcare staff, and shielding public shipyard employees from reductions in force or hiring freezes.
I am very grateful that this bill moves forward a reform that I have worked on for years. It authorizes automatic Selective Service System registration for eligible men, making the system more fair and efficient.
I am especially proud that this legislation codifies the Women's Initiatives Teams across all services. Women serve and lead in every domain of our military. We cannot let Secretary Hegseth sideline them. Making WITs permanent ensures each branch can continue to identify the barriers and remove those barriers to women's recruitment, retention, health, and safety.
I do all this and support this bill, despite my extreme lack of confidence in this Pentagon's leadership, but I must always support the men and women who wear the uniform. Our servicemembers and their families make extraordinary sacrifices for our Nation, and now, especially now, we must fulfill our commitments to them.
Mr. Speaker, with my remaining time, with very much respect to the ranking member and chairman, I would also like to echo Mr. Khanna in imploring a full committee hearing for the House Armed Services Committee with Secretary Hegseth and a full committee hearing for the Intel Committee with Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. We absolutely and collectively all must have the oversight and the understanding of what is going on in Venezuela and the attacks in the open Caribbean.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for the opportunity to serve.
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