Betty McCollum

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I understand what the distinguished chair of the Defense Subcommittee just said. He doesn't support U.S. troops in Ukraine. That would be a vote we would have to take here in Congress, but this amendment does so much more than that, and that is why I was clear that I don't think it was the gentleman's intention. This amendment would impede the ability of the Department to provide security and aid to American personnel in the region. It would block the Department from providing security forces to even assist congressional or executive delegation travel to Ukraine: the military escorts that go with us. Additionally, it would hinder the Department's ability to provide emergency security assistance to American personnel at the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine if there was ever a threat or a need for an urgent evacuation. I understand clearly the gentleman's intentions. This amendment does more than that. I would possibly ask the gentleman to consider withdrawing the amendment at this time and remove the things that I am concerned about in it, and then I would be happy to look at supporting not having U.S. forces go to Ukraine without Congress having a discussion. Mr. Chair, unfortunately, this amendment does so much more than what the gentleman's, I believe, true and honest intentions are. Mr. Chair, I oppose the amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee), in support of this en bloc, which I also support.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, let me be crystal clear. The United States does not currently plan to deploy forces to Ukraine in the ongoing defense against the Russian invasion. The United States does not currently plan to deploy forces. There is no current or future year funding for the deployment of U.S. Armed Forces to Ukraine in this bill or any other bill that I am aware of. Therefore, this amendment would not impact any current or planned support to Ukraine. However, this amendment would impede the ability of the Department to provide security aid to American personnel in the region. I am not talking about in Ukraine, just in the region, it would impede it. For example, this prohibition would block the Department from providing security forces to assist congressional or executive delegation travel to Ukraine. I don't think that was the gentleman's intention, but that is what this amendment does. Additionally, it would hinder the Department's ability to provide emergency security assistance to American personnel in the U.S. Embassy if there was ever a threat or a need for an evacuation. This amendment would not change how the U.S. is aiding Ukraine in their war against Russian aggression. Meanwhile, it would change the way we protect Americans abroad. We put our elected and civil service in danger by doing that, so I strongly oppose this amendment. I don't think this was the gentleman's intention, but I have to oppose this amendment. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, 2 years ago, we passed the NDAA, which established a bipartisan commission, including both civilians and military, to rename installations that were associated with the Confederate States of America. This amendment attempts to stop the implementation of the commission's recommendations. I am pleased to see that the administration has already started the renaming process, officially renaming seven installations with two more to go by the end of October. I will provide some context for these renamings. Fort Benning in Georgia was named after a Confederate general who strongly supported slavery and was a leader in the secession movement. Now that fort has been renamed Fort Moore after Army Lieutenant General Hal Moore and his wife, Julia Compton Moore. General Moore commanded the first large-scale battle of the Vietnam war, and Julia Compton Moore was instrumental in setting up survivor support networks and casualty notification teams. Then there is Fort Bragg in North Carolina. That was named after a former slave owner and one of the most hated generals in history. In fact, he was hated by his own Army, and some of the Confederate soldiers tried to end his life. He is also known to be a military failure. That base has now been renamed Fort Liberty. Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia, which was named after a failed Confederate general, will be renamed Fort Walker after Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, the first woman surgeon in the Civil War and the only woman awarded the Medal of Honor. Renaming these installations helps us remember that they deserve to be remembered in a way that celebrates the true patriots of this Nation who supported this country and who have contributed to its advancement. Why would we continue to honor and celebrate traitors to this very Nation? They were also involved in horrific crimes. In my home State of Minnesota, we have been renaming several buildings and schools and other areas that were named at one time honoring who we thought were a great territorial Governor and State officials, but as history was finally taught in its entirety, we found out they committed atrocities. They were part of the genocide against Tribal nations. My State, my community, decided they should not be honored, and I believe that is also true in the case of these military installations. Congress and the administration set up an appropriate and fair process to review and rename them. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, when we name something, whether it is a post office, whether it is a road named by a local government, we do so to honor something that is significant. We do that to show we are proud of this person. We are proud of their actions. What we are doing with the renaming in these commissions is saying: Let's reflect back. Why was this named this way? Are we proud of people who led the secession against this country? Should we look toward the new patriots, the people who have served in the past and the people who are currently serving to give them the honor, the privilege, of showing forward their courage and actions as we strive to be a more perfect Union? Mr. Chair, I continue to oppose this amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I support this amendment. This amendment advocates for civilian personnel in the Department. As I pointed out earlier in my opening remarks, we tried this once before and we did not see substantial savings. People who work in the civilian part of our Department of Defense do an admirable job. They work very hard for all of us, and they are loyal to us. They are loyal to the Department of Defense. They are not loyal to a contractor or at the whim of a contractor if they decide they want to change a pay scale or to do something different, or raise the price of the contract and hold us hostage. When it comes to the Secretary to determine what is necessary for staffing, I am going to leave it to the Secretary at this time, and I encourage my colleagues to support the amendment of the gentleman from Virginia.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Chair, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment offered by the gentleman from Texas.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, in 2021, Congress passed the NDAA, creating a naming commission with the intent of renaming military installations and relocating memorials that celebrate the Confederate attempt to rip apart the United States for the sake of maintaining slavery. The NDAA was passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. In fact, the NDAA had so much bipartisan support that it defeated President Trump's veto by a vote of 322-87. The few remaining Confederate monuments at minor installations that have already not been renamed or removed will happen soon. As required by Congress and implemented by the Secretary of Defense, Arlington National Cemetery is required to remove a Confederate memorial and has initiated the process for careful removal and relocation of the memorial located in section 16 of the cemetery. Therefore, this amendment not only attempts to defy the overwhelming bipartisan support and will of Congress, but it is likely too late to even make a difference. Congress decided in a unified fashion that it was time to move on from the regretful error of the Civil War and human rights atrocities. This amendment will do nothing to stop that. Mr. Chair, I encourage my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Chair, here again is an attempt to cut off any support for Ukraine as they fight to defend their country from an illegal Russian invasion. As I said earlier, once again, Putin is attempting to rewrite the map of Europe through the use of force. He is doing so in violation of international law. He is deliberately targeting civilians, as I mentioned: hospitals, daycare centers, apartment buildings. While he is doing that, yes, he is destroying the economy and the livelihood of Ukrainians in the process. Putin and his thugs are committing war crimes on a mass scale. The United States and the other democratic nations of the world must continue to oppose him. If we do not, then he or another authoritarian leader will try something like this again, yes, either in Ukraine or elsewhere in the world. Earlier, I laid out that America is not alone in the support of Ukraine. Our allies and our partners are donating tanks, air defense systems, artillery, vehicles, rockets, and infantry fighting vehicles. This list goes on and on. Let's not abandon our fellow democracies. Let's not abandon the EU and our NATO allies now. Let's not abandon Ukraine. Faced with daunting odds against Russian forces, they have taken up a mantle to defend themselves, defend their values, and our shared democratic principles. They deserve our continued support. Madam Chair, I understand my colleague has a different view than I do, but I thank him for a respectful engagement in this discussion, and I urge my colleagues at this time to oppose this amendment. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I rise in the strongest opposition to this amendment.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, some of the remarks that my colleague made, I am not even going to bother to respond to because I don't think they are appropriate for this august Chamber which we are in. The military only takes people who are qualified to serve. Then after they have done their service for our country, they should still be respected. This is a very sad conversation that we are having, and I go back to the fact about diversity. I will use the example of the Hmong in my community who fought along with our soldiers in Vietnam and protected and rescued many of our pilots. They came here, and they didn't have a written language. They came here, and they didn't know about military academies. They wanted to honor and serve our country, but they weren't quite sure how to go about it. What did we do? We created opportunities for diversity and inclusion, and it is amazing when you put a hand out to somebody and say: We want you to be part of this great Nation. You are willing to put your life on the line, and we thank you for that. The chair and I know why we have a recruitment problem. I understand why we have a recruitment problem. I serve on the committee, and I am doing everything I can to address it, and part of that is this office. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, Dr. Dillard has dedicated his life to service to the United States. Commissioned in the United States Army in 1981, he served for 26 years and retired as a colonel after numerous command and staff positions. I thank him for his service. In his current position as director of diversity and inclusion, he provides oversight and guidance to individuals working across the Department of Defense on these issues, and he has the experience to know where improvements can be made. The goals of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion promote the Department of Defense culture of dignity and respect that values diversity and inclusion and readiness imperatives. As the Department executes the Secretary of Defense's direction to ``take care of our people,'' it is about supporting both the servicemember and their family, regardless of who they are. It is about having their backs while they put their lives on the line in the defense of this country. The chairman and others in this room are fond of Ronald Reagan, so I offer a quote: ``Government's first duty is to protect the people, not to run their lives.'' Rather than trying to run the lives of each servicemember into the ground, let us concentrate on what should be the focus of this bill-- ensuring that our military servicemembers have the tools they need to defend our Nation and to come home safely. Need I remind everyone in the room that we are in the middle of a recruitment crisis? The chair and I have heard why we are in the middle of a recruitment crisis. Many companies and private businesses are in the middle of a recruitment crisis. What are they doing? They are opening up positions for diversity and inclusion to make sure people know that they are welcome in their companies. We want to make sure that people are welcomed in the Department of Defense. We must find ways to attract young people to choose to serve this country, to know that their service will be honored. If they feel that serving in different branches of the Department will open them up to ridicule, disrespect, or worse, why would they volunteer to serve and put their lives on the line? Mr. Dillard is trying to ensure that all feel welcome. He should not be vilified for that. He should be applauded. Let's stop the attacks on building a diverse force that represents all of America. Mr. Chair, I remember as a young high school student--I am not afraid to admit my age with my gray hair--in 1972, all the discussions about women in the military academy. That was a radical idea. You know what the military had to do. They had to go out and recruit, and they had to show that they wanted the diversity. They wanted the respect. I am proud I do that with my military academies, where I have Hmong, African Americans, and people from different sexual orientations apply to serve our country. They put their lives on the line. It is duty first for them. Let's stop the attacks on building a diverse force. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment to have a discussion with the gentleman.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, Ukraine is a democracy. It is a democracy fighting for its life every single day, and the world is watching. The brave men and women of Ukraine are fighting to protect their democracy. Vladimir Putin violated international law with his illegal invasion of Ukraine. Putin and his thugs are committing war crimes on a mass scale in Ukraine, including the senseless murder of civilians, even while they are in the hospital. He continues to violate international laws by deliberately targeting marketplaces, supermarkets, daycares, and apartment buildings. Putin has also broken other international laws by permitting--encouraging, not just permitting--encouraging the abduction of Ukrainian children to be taken from their families and their parents. Democracies need to stand together, and that is what they have been doing. It is the responsibility of the United States, the strongest democracy, and all nations that respect democratically elected governments to support Ukraine's fight against this unlawful Russian aggression. That is exactly why we have seen such a global response to these atrocities. Our allies, our partners, our fellow democracies are also supporting Ukraine in this fight by providing tanks donated by allies and partners; air defense artillery rounds donated by allies and partners; fighter aircraft donated 100 percent by allies and partners; mid- to long-range air defense systems 75 percent donated by allies and partners; counter unmanned aerial systems 69 percent donated by allies and partners; 155-millimeter artillery systems 64 percent donated by allies and partners; Armor, personnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles 63 percent donated by allies and partners; Stinger missiles 52 percent donated by allies and partners; Javelin command launch units 52 percent donated by allies and partners; Javelin missiles 46 percent donated by allies and partners. America is not providing support alone. The democracies are together on this. I would point out for a fact that when Ukraine decided to become a democracy, to engage in the free world, they gave up their nuclear weapons. They gave them up. What they are just asking for us right now is to support a fellow democracy. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to strongly oppose this amendment. Support Ukrainians in their struggle to defend their homeland. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Chair, Cyrus Salazar, as has been pointed out, is the director of the Department of Defense for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and is charged with promoting diversity within the DOD. The Department has a responsibility to make sure all Americans are welcome in the service of our Nation and that it reflects America's defense. I worked in the private sector until basically, I mean, I served part-time in city councils and that, but I worked in the private sector until I came here to Congress. I still have a lot of friends in the private sector where I represent 3M. Right across the river in Minneapolis, there are General Mills, Target, and I could go on and on with the companies that we have. These companies are competing for talent, whether it is the person who is helping you at the Target store with the checkout or whether it is the person that is being recruited to go into teaching or a person who is going to become a CEO or a compliance officer or a bank auditor. We are all competing in the workforce right now. Our labor trades are competing for the workforce. There are fewer and fewer people entering the workforce, so there is a great competition going on. These companies have diversity offices. They are going out and talking to groups that maybe have never been in the industry before. I will use the building trades again. In our building trades they are knocking down the doors going to our high schools. They have people just working on diversity, saying, these are great paying jobs, let me tell you about them. Maybe nobody in your family has been a plumber, maybe nobody in your family has been an electrician or a pipe fitter, or maybe you never worked road construction. These are great jobs for you. They are going out and they are recruiting these people. We are up against the same challenge of recruitment and retention that the private sector is. In fact, we are competing for the same workforce. Of course, in my opinion, we need to be doing some of this diversity and inclusion. The gentleman from Texas, when he quoted what was said at West Point, I totally agree, those are horrific statements and that person is gone and they should be gone. But the DOD is struggling with a challenge. Right now, our civilian workforce doesn't reflect the diversity of other Federal agencies. We are trying to get more women, more men, more everybody in this country to know that the DOD is a great place to work and that once you are there, you are going to love the job, and we are going to give you the tools in the toolbox to do it. Madam Chair, I will close with this. One of the things that I have been working on is cybersecurity and IT and linguistics. I come from a culturally rich district. If you come to University Avenue in St. Paul, the diversity of the restaurants and small businesses that are there, it will blow your mind away. It is rich in diversity. But we still find, even all being in the same neighborhoods and communities, we still have to do outreach to say you are welcome. One of those places is cybersecurity. A lot of these businesses are being hacked. They are having issues with it. We are going to the high schools and to the community colleges, and we are looking at folks like--there is a place for you in cybersecurity. They are like, me? Yeah, you. Sometimes people need to be welcomed in, they need to have the opportunity to be recruited. I really think that having someone that oversees opportunity, equal opportunity, diversity and inclusion, making sure that disability programs--we have our servicemembers who come back and sometimes have to be relocated into another position or a job, that is what this office can do. I know we have gotten down this track of how we can divide ourselves talking about diversity and inclusion. I want us to embrace it in a way to have a more unified workforce and to recruit and retain the best and the brightest to work in the Department of Defense. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time because I think we have had this discussion over and over again today.