Zoe Lofgren: “I realize that I may be the only voice against the amendment here today, but I do so because there is a school in my…”

“I realize that I may be the only voice against the amendment here today, but I do so because there is a school in my district that for over a long period of time reached the conclusion not to have a ROTC program. I personally think ROTC is a good idea. I wish that ROTC did exist and I know individuals who have had a great experience and a measurable improvement in their future and life because of their participation in the program. However, I would hate to see San Jose State University cut off from all of the fine research that they are doing because of a decision made in another program area, supportive as I am of the ROTC program. I think it is a mistake to tie in our research funds with our ROTC program support, because so much of what is done by way of scientific research is not done just to benefit the universities that might participate in those research programs but that research is to benefit the entire country, to benefit the future of the United States by forging advances on one or another of critical questions that face us and our future.”