Political Quotes

“Lloyd Austin, as we have heard, would be our country's first African-American Secretary of Defense. His confirmation is more than a symbolic milestone towards genuine integration of the Department of Defense; it is a substantive answer to many of the challenges that the military faces. What are those challenges, Mr. Speaker? White supremacy and extremism. There is a dramatic rise in White supremacists and racist hate groups within our military. They actively recruit from our uniformed ranks. A Military Times survey found an alarming rise in White supremacist and racist ideology in the military. What are those challenges, Mr. Speaker? The lack of diversity inclusion at our highest ranks and in our coveted career fields. Racial and ethnic groups make up more than 40 percent of the Nation's military, but there is a significant lack of diversity in civilian and military leadership at the most senior levels, due in large part to systemic racial bias in promotion and assignment boards. This hurts the military, our readiness and our effectiveness. Who are those challenges, Mr. Speaker? The military isn't immune from the racial injustice that we see in the broader criminal justice system. Under the Uniform Code of Military Justice today, a Black servicemember is two times more likely to be court-martialed or punished. These are real challenges that erode the effectiveness of our military. That is why we need a leader like Lloyd Austin.…”