What they said. What they meant.

“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 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 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 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 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.”

“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 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 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.”

“You say we fear-monger. I say you target girls. A girl was investigated to see if she was trans. She was not trans. Other girls were investigated because they did not look feminine. None were trans. You spread rumors about a basketball player. You harassed her. You bullied her. You threatened her. In Florida, you investigated a trans student. Investigators asked kids to describe the trans student undressing. I think this is disturbing. I think trans girls are more likely to be victims of violent crime, not the perpetrator. I think the person behind this amendment is wrong. She wants to stop colleagues using the restroom. She talks about the right to vote. I think her side wants to take away a woman's right to vote. I think this is absurd.”

“I don't want taxpayers to pay for military parents' school choice. The government already pays some money for schools that military kids use. Starting this program will make the Pentagon spend more. We need that money for other things. I think military families should use the schools they have. I don't want them to have vouchers. I want more money for other education programs. I will fight for more money for those programs. I think this amendment will make it harder to get that money.”

“I don't like vouchers. Vouchers cost money. That's an issue. The other side didn't address it.”

“I oppose this voucher program. I want taxpayers to spend more on public schools near military bases. We could spend on programs for disabled kids. Private schools can reject kids. I don't like that. Military families should get more money for public schools. That would be better.”

“I don't want this voucher program to pass. I want the government to spend more money on public schools near military bases. DoDEA and Impact Aid already give some money. But I want more. The government should give them more money first. Then maybe we can talk about vouchers. I want you all to vote no.”