“I want to keep transgender people out of the military. I say they have mental problems and they could be dangerous with weapons. I am against the last president's policy. I want to pass my amendment to support the current president's rules. I don't want any exceptions. I want to keep the military strong like I say the president and secretary are doing. I want to make this law so no future president can change it.”
What they said. What they meant.
Plain-language translations from Congress.
Recent debates
8 latest topics
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Honoring Former U.S. Representative Charles Hatcher of Georgia
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House of Representatives
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027
“I don't like the other side's amendment. I say it kicks out transgender people who served well. I say it is based on hate and prejudice. I don't think it makes the military stronger. I say there is no evidence for it. I ask who we are as a country. I say it turns away strong people who want to serve. I say the public wants us to support all service members. I don't think we should make this law. I want you to vote no on this amendment.”
“I want to ban transgender people from the military. I say they have mental problems. I say they are dangerous. I compare them to people who are not allowed in the military. I say it is a serious issue. I want to keep the rule the same as before. I ask you to adopt my amendment.”
“I don't like that you want to ban transgender people from the military. I say it is discrimination. I say it wastes time and money. I say we already allow them to serve. I say our studies show it helps more than hurts. I say we don't kick people out based on who they are. I say it costs money when we kick people out. I say that is not what you claim to want. I say even their health care is not the reason they serve. I say we spend even more money training them than for their health care. I say your rule change makes no sense.”
“I don't like that you want to ban transgender people from the military. I say it is discrimination. I say it wastes time and money. I say we already allow them to serve. I say our studies show it helps more than hurts. I say we don't kick people out based on who they are. I say it costs money when we kick people out. I say that is not what you claim to want. I say even their health care is not the reason they serve. I say we spend even more money training them than for their health care. I say your rule change makes no sense.”
“I don't want to ban transgender people from the military. I say they are good soldiers. I say they help our country. I say they should serve. I want you to vote no on this ban.”
“I don't like this defense bill. I don't like this war. I don't like that my friends died in a war. I don't like that more people died in this war. I don't like spending money on war. I don't like that gas is expensive. I don't like the President. I want to stop spending money on war. I want to spend money on other things. I want to talk about my bill to stop spending money on war.”
“I want this bill to pass. It is bipartisan. The government should spend this money. The President should not decide war. We should decide.”
“I want to change this military funding bill. I want to ban the military from paying for transgender surgeries and treatments. I don't think taxpayers should pay for it. I think it harms people. I want the government to stop paying for it.”
“I don't want to ban the military from paying for transgender surgeries and treatments. I want taxpayers to pay for it. I think it helps people. I want the government to keep paying for it. I want more people to join the military.”
“I don't want the military to pay for transgender surgeries. I want strong tough soldiers. I think this other plan is very bad and crazy. It will hurt the military. I don't want to do that. I want the military to fight well.”
“I don't want this change to pass. It will stop the military from giving some healthcare to children. I think that is very bad. It will make some soldiers quit to get healthcare for their children. I don't want that. I want the military to keep those soldiers. I think this change is very bad. I want people to vote against it.”
“I don't want the military to spend money on healthcare for those children. I think it is very bad. I think parents who do that are very bad. I think those soldiers are very bad. I think those soldiers should not be in the military. I don't want the military to spend money on them. I want the military to spend money on other things. I think this change is very bad. I want people to vote for it.”
“I don't know those children. I am not their doctor. A doctor should decide what is best for children. I want the doctors to decide. I want people to do what doctors say. I want doctors to give children many things. I don't want people to say mean things.”
“I don't know what those big words mean. That university president said silly things. I don't think those doctors know what they're talking about. Giving people hormones can hurt them. I want doctors to use real science. Some people do bad things. I don't want them in the military.”
“Gender dysphoria is real. Some people need treatment. My colleagues don't want them to get it. That's cruel. A friend is leaving the country for treatment. This policy is mean. You want to get rid of these people. That's wrong.”
“I don't want biological males in girls' sports in schools run by the Department of Defense. I think it's unfair to women and girls. I want to stop it.”
“I don't want the military schools to stop letting trans girls play girls' sports. I want to protect those kids. I think the other side just wants to fight about it for politics.”
“I want to keep trans girls out of girls' sports and locker rooms. I think trans women are men. I think they hurt girls' safety. I want the military to keep trans girls out of girls' spaces. I will talk about bathrooms and prisons to make people afraid. I think high-T male soldiers want this. I am a survivor. I want to protect girls.”
“I don't like this amendment. I think it will lead to invasive exams of children who want to play sports. I want trans children to be able to play on the team they want. I think this amendment will hurt children.”