Ken Calvert: “Serving in the United States military is an honor, and we should be thanking the thousands of young people who choose to…”

“Serving in the United States military is an honor, and we should be thanking the thousands of young people who choose to join the military to defend this great Nation. The assertion that joining the military is a bad thing for low-income youth or any young person, is fundamentally flawed. It is insulting to the men and women who currently serve and those who served before them. The military recruits the best and the brightest. They should not be prohibited from recruiting the best and the brightest from lower, socioeconomic classes or in the activities in which young people participate, such as esports. In fact, studies show that when compared to their peers, military veterans do better across-the-board on education attainment, income, and quality of life. It is important to remember the quotation, ``This Nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.'' The world is more dangerous now than it has ever been. It is because of the brave men and women in our military that our freedoms and security are assured. I respect each branch of our military and it is the moral responsibility of every Member of this body to show these men and women the respect and the appreciation they deserve. Please join me in doing just that and voting ``no'' on this amendment. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore.…”