Tim Huelskamp: “I want to thank the chairman for yielding to me. I appreciate, especially, his efforts on the NDAA last year in which we…”

“I want to thank the chairman for yielding to me. I appreciate, especially, his efforts on the NDAA last year in which we were able to add language that would require the Department of Defense to adopt new regulations to protect the religious liberties of our military personnel, especially of our brave chaplains. However, since March and since the adoption of that law, we have sent three letters to the Department of Defense, asking for progress updates. The Department has only responded with an acknowledgment that it has received our letters, but, to date, we are unaware of any progress. Instead, it seems that secretive meetings continue with individuals actually opposed to religious liberties. In light of this delay, my amendment is very simple. It would require the Department to provide Congress with a report of meetings between employees and civilians with respect to the development of military policy related to religious liberty. I encourage my colleagues to support this amendment.”