Political Quotes

“I rise tonight to discuss once again the routine promotions of our military's general and flag officers. During this Congress, due to the dangerous and extreme position of one Republican Senator, not a single general or flag officer has been confirmed--not one--all because that Senator disagrees with a policy that is designed to ensure safe and reasonable access for all servicemembers to reproductive healthcare regardless of where the military chooses to assign them. Last week, the Defense Department's legal advisers and subject-matter experts came before the Armed Services Committee to brief us on the policy and to answer our Members' questions. They laid out clear, plain facts that explained the legality and appropriateness of the policy. As I stated publicly after the briefing concluded, no one with an ounce of intellectual honesty can deny that the Department's policy is legal and is, in fact, rooted in decades of precedent through administrations of both parties. I respect my colleagues on the other side who feel strongly about this issue, but until Congress passes a law to overturn 40 years of legal precedence, the Department of Defense has a responsibility to manage the health, welfare, and readiness of the force within the legal authorities available to it. The Department's legal experts also outlined in detail the long- existing statutory authorities that allow the Department to provide these travel and leave benefits.…”