Jack Reed: “I rise this morning to discuss the promotions of our military leaders. During the past month, I had the opportunity, as…”

“I rise this morning to discuss the promotions of our military leaders. During the past month, I had the opportunity, as many of my colleagues did, to visit our troops overseas and around the country. As always, I was moved by their selflessness and courage, and I was impressed by the knowledge and skill of our military leaders. We ask much of our servicemembers and their families, and they deserve our gratitude and support. So although I was proud to spend time with our troops and their families this past month, I was appalled by the hardship and disrespect many of them are experiencing. While Congress had a month of recess, hundreds of military officers were denied their promotions, hundreds of military families were played as political pawns, and our national security was undermined--all because one Senator disagrees with a legal healthcare policy. For more than 6 months, the senior Senator from Alabama has blocked every senior military promotion--now totaling nearly 300 officers--in his bid to extort the Pentagon to overturn its reproductive healthcare policy. The Senator claims that he is not harming military readiness, but he is dangerously wrong. The Secretary of Defense and every member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have condemned his hold and described the damage he is inflicting on U.S. military leadership. Seven retired Secretaries of Defense--both Republican and Democratic--have condemned the Senator's actions and urged him to drop his hold.…”