Sheila Jackson Lee: “I thank the gentleman very much for his leadership. I also thank my fellow Texan, Mac Thornberry, for his service to the…”

“I thank the gentleman very much for his leadership. I also thank my fellow Texan, Mac Thornberry, for his service to the Nation as he continues his journey. Let me say how important this legislation is as it relates to basic pay, incentive pay, and hazard pay for our military families, many of whom are in my congressional district; the work that has been done on the maternity uniform pilot program; and also the work on reenforcing NATO; the sexual assault prevention and response that is so important, particularly in our community in Texas, for the horrible acts at Fort Hood against Vanessa Guillen, causing her to lose her life along with many others. This is a legislation that focuses on the personnel and that focuses on the security of our Nation. I am very grateful to Congressman Brown for his leadership on joining with other Members to ensure with Chairman Smith that we remove these Confederate names from the names of military bases that represent all people. I am very grateful that my language indicates that profound, dignified, qualified, and heroic African-American soldiers have the right to have their names listed on these particular bases. I ask America to send in the names of your relatives. Call my office. Send it to the Armed Services Committee. Let us have a base where soldiers go that reflects everyone. I am thankful that my language was put in to name bases after African- American soldiers and other diverse persons. Mr.…”