Jill Tokuda: “You know, it has been said once already on this floor, but I don't think it can be said enough. If we ever, ever needed…”

“You know, it has been said once already on this floor, but I don't think it can be said enough. If we ever, ever needed a reason to support DEI training, you need look no further than the debates, the antics that we have seen on this floor today, the childish, yes, actions that we have heard from the other side. In fact, from the backwards, racially insensitive comments spoken on this floor, it seems DEI training would be good right here in the Halls of Congress. Mr. Chair, we have spent hours in markup already debating DEI, but apparently it wasn't enough. So here we are again forced to debate yet another bad amendment. Never mind that 40 percent of our servicemembers identify as members of minority groups, or that 42 percent of servicemembers of color turn down assignments because of concerns about racism and discrimination that they have experienced. Never mind that almost half of all servicemembers in a recent survey said they have been the subject of racial slurs or jokes in their communities. To say that we do not need DEI is to say racism and discrimination does not exist in our military and in our society. For the sponsor of this amendment to be proud of taking a meat cleaver to DEI flies in the face of all Americans and the diversity that we represent. What this reckless amendment and this obsession over DEI really exposes is a callous disregard for these servicemembers and their experiences. They deserve better.…”