Darrell Issa: “I don't just rise in opposition to this bill, and I don't want to appear angry, but as a veteran who served both as an…”

“I don't just rise in opposition to this bill, and I don't want to appear angry, but as a veteran who served both as an enlisted man and as an officer from 1970 until nearly 1990, I know what it is like to get an honorable discharge--not once but twice. As an officer, I oversaw courts-martial. I know what it takes to get a bad conduct discharge. Shame on those who would write a bill and then refuse to allow a change that would at least prohibit those who are being discharged with bad conduct discharges. Let's understand. Other than honorable is a nice term. Dishonorable is a clear term. If you murder your commanding officer, you get a dishonorable discharge. If you just try to, you will probably get a bad conduct discharge. If you are caught dealing vast amounts of drugs or you are an MS-13 person who lied to get into the military and you have gone AWOL, you might even get a general, but you certainly are going to get nothing worse than a bad conduct discharge. The fact that this bill allows people with a bad conduct discharge, people who have been convicted of clear felonies, to gain and retain citizenship in the United States is reprehensible. Let's understand something else. In times of peace, after 6 months of honorable service, you can apply and get your green card and get your citizenship. We have people who have served less than 2 years who get sworn in as U.S. citizens.…”