Jane Harman: “I rise as a member of the Committee on Armed Services in opposition to the amendment offered by the gentleman from New…”

“I rise as a member of the Committee on Armed Services in opposition to the amendment offered by the gentleman from New York [Mr. Solomon]. I share the gentleman's goal of assisting military recruiters, and, like him, I support a strong defense and know that such a defense depends in substantial part on recruiting our best and brightest. But in achieving that goal, Mr. Chairman, we should not trample on the fundamental principles on which our society is based, like nondiscrimination and academic freedom. Unfortunately, Mr. Chairman, the amendment being offered by the gentleman from New York [Mr. Solomon] takes a meat ax approach to the issue of recruiter access to college campuses. That is why virtually every educational association, major university such as the University of California, the American Bar Association, and the Department of Defense oppose it. It is punitive and unnecessary. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the amendment offered by the gentleman from New York [Mr. Solomon].”