National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027

Floor Speech

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Ms. TOKUDA. Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment.

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Ms. TOKUDA. Madam Chair, let's be clear: Our servicemembers already have the ability to bring personally owned firearms into military installations. They simply have to meet commonsense Department of Defense safety requirements, be legally eligible, properly trained, meet age requirements, demonstrate responsible conduct, and safely transport and store their firearms.

Those aren't burdens. They are basic safeguards.

This amendment turns that standard on its head. Instead of commanders deciding who can safely carry a personal firearm on base, it creates a presumption that requests should be approved unless commanders can justify saying no. It weakens commander authority and lowers the safety standards that have protected our installations for years.

When we lower standards around firearms, we increase risk. We have lived through the consequences. Some of the deadliest mass shootings on military installations were carried out with personally owned firearms. At the same time, our military continues to face a heartbreaking suicide rate, with firearms accounting for the vast majority of Active- Duty suicide deaths.

We should be strengthening safe storage, responsible ownership, and commander discretion, not making it easier for firearms to be carried and stored on our bases with fewer safeguards.

Military installations are not public parks. They are secure workplaces. They are homes for military families and critically important national security assets. Commanders must have the authority to protect the people entrusted to them.

If we expect discipline, readiness, and accountability from our troops, we should expect the same when it comes to firearms on our installations.

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Ms. TOKUDA. Madam Chair, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Cisneros).

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Ms. TOKUDA. Madam Chair, may I inquire as to the time remaining.

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Ms. TOKUDA. Madam Chair, this amendment is a dangerous solution in search of a problem. Not only is it absolutely unnecessary, but it constrains base commanders in their duty to keep facilities, servicemembers, and families safe.

Madam Chair, I strongly urge my colleagues to oppose this reckless amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

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