OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027

Floor Speech

Date: July 21, 2026
Location: Washington, DC

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. CISNEROS. Madam Chair, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment. The FY16 NDAA already granted the Department the authority to establish a process for servicemembers to carry personal firearms on base.

It is simple. The chain of command has the authority to grant these requests. However, Secretary Hegseth's MOU from April, which this amendment codifies, has a presumption of approval that weakens an installation commander's authority and would require them to essentially prove a negative to deny a request.

The process that we established was dependent on a servicemember's need for personal or force protection. Yet, this amendment strips that requirement or any justification for that matter in order to carry a personal firearm on base.

The Secretary's logic is that adding more firearms at military installations would make it safer. No law enforcement agency would ever suggest that more people carrying personal weapons makes any place safer. While our military personnel are trained to use firearms, they are not all trained to be law enforcement, and no one should ever take the law into their own hands.

There is nothing in this amendment that would restrict locations for personal firearms. Does that mean junior enlisted servicemembers who account for roughly half of all military suicides are now permitted to carry in the barracks under this amendment?

Are personnel now allowed to walk around the commissaries, schools, the exchange, or libraries with a firearm? More guns does not make us more safe.

Expanding access to personal firearms on base increases the risk of servicemember suicide. Independent research, including reviews commissioned by the Department of Defense itself, has found that greater access to firearms is associated with increased suicide risks among servicemembers.

There is a clear lack of consideration by Republicans for servicemembers' and their families' well-being and safety here.

Madam Chair, I urge all my colleagues to oppose this amendment.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT


Source
arrow_upward