I have been listening to my colleagues on the other side point out that this is a Nation at war. Yes, it is. It has been at war for 9 long years, and I wish this Congress would talk about these wars and the cost. But I want to talk today about the cost to the men and women who are kicked out of the military, who have done nothing wrong, have been serving the country all of this time, put their careers on the line, put their lives on the line, and they're being thrown out for something that they have nothing to do with. I was a military spouse. I can't ever remember anybody getting upset about whether people were gay or straight. And people knew. Of course they know. But what we judged each other on was a code of behavior. Behavior. And when we see men and women who are behaving and serving our country honorably, it is absolutely disgraceful to throw them out. So, if we want to talk about the military and the war, then I think we should be talking about the military and the war and the cost, not the people who are fighting it or the people who have served this country so honorably.
Editor's note · Context
Shea-Porter addresses the treatment of military personnel and the costs of war.
Share
More from Carol Shea-Porter
Here we are Friday afternoon. We have a lot of people around the country who are going home for the weekend, but expecting to go back to their workplace on Monday. Congress is not coming back until September. Did we get everything done…
I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: At the end of division B (before the short title), insert the following: Sec. ___. None of the funds made…
Earlier today I attended the annual New Hampshire Law Enforcement Officers Memorial ceremony. This year's ceremony was particularly somber as we added a new name, Officer Stephen Arkell, to New Hampshire's Roll of Honor. Officer Arkell was…
Thank you, Congressman Tonko, for yielding. I know how close you were to Louise and how much she loved you and you loved her. I offer my condolences not only to Louise's family, but also to Paul and to the entire Chamber, and to me…





