Military Transgender Mandates Deserve Closer Review of Costs and Readiness Impact
On July 13, the House of Representatives voted on an amendment to the FY 2018 National Defense Authorization Act offered by Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO). The Hartzler Amendment would have prohibited the use of taxpayer dollars to pay for expensive “gender-reassignment” surgery and life-long hormone therapy for military persons suffering from gender dysphoria – a psychological condition involving confusion about gender identity. The amendment fell short, 209-214, with 24 Republicans joining with all Democrats voting. The following comments may be attributed to Elaine Donnelly, President of the Center for Military Readiness:
“It is unfortunate that on a key national defense issue, all voting Democrats and 24 uninformed Republicans let down the troops.
“Severe budget cuts are harming readiness in all branches of the service, contributing to deadly problems such as escalating Marine Corps aviation tragedies. Congresswoman Hartzler and those supporting her deserve credit for their effort to prioritize readiness and preserve precious taxpayer dollars.
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