Discussion · House of Representatives
Mark Takano Democrat
“I urge my colleagues to vote no on this amendment. It bans mental health care for transgender children. This will force service members to leave the military to protect their kids, which hurts our military readiness.”
“Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment. Once again, my Republican colleagues are moving forward with a sweeping ban on necessary healthcare, including mental health care for children. This isn’t about cost. This isn’t about force readiness. In fact, this amendment will harm our military’s force readiness. This amendment will force servicemembers out of the military either for their own sake or for the sake of their children since this amendment bans mental health care for trans children. There are and will be trans children born to military households. That is a fact. What parent would choose staying in their job if that means denying their child access to mental health care? This amendment makes it impossible for the military to retain servicemembers with trans children. This is an inhumane, wasteful, regressive amendment, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.’’”
Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment. Once again, my Republican colleagues are moving forward with a sweeping ban on necessary healthcare, including mental health care for children. This isn’t about cost. This isn’t about force readiness. In fact, this amendment will harm our military’s force readiness. This amendment will force servicemembers out of the military either for their own sake or for the sake of their children since this amendment bans mental health care for trans children. There are and will be trans children born to military households. That is a fact. What parent would choose staying in their job if that means denying their child access to mental health care? This amendment makes it impossible for the military to retain servicemembers with trans children. This is an inhumane, wasteful, regressive amendment, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.’’