[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 1 (Wednesday, January 4, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E13]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                THE MILITARY RECRUITER CAMPUS ACCESS ACT

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                        HON. GERALD B.H. SOLOMON

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 4, 1995
  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing the Military 
Recruiter Campus Access Act, which would deny all Federal funds to 
educational institutions that bar or impair military recruiting. As you 
know, this phenomenon has proliferated across the country in recent 
years.
  This has outraged me for years, Mr. Speaker. Simply justice demands 
that we not give taxpayer dollars to institutions which are interfering 
with the Federal Government's constitutionally mandated function of 
raising a military. Further, with the defense drawdown, recruiting the 
most highly qualified candidates from around the country has become 
even more important.
  Last year, we began to deal with this injustice with the overwhelming 
passage of my amendment to the fiscal year 1995 DOD authorization bill 
which, with the support of Senator Nickles, became law on October 1. 
That law, which denies any DOD funds from going to colleges and 
universities which are discriminating against recruiters, has already 
begun to have some positive effect. I am told by the Pentagon that 
schools across the country are getting the message and preparing to 
accommodate recruiters rather than lose their precious funding.
  But to pick up the stragglers who are still not complying, further 
action is necessary. We have additional leverage, Mr. Speaker. My 
amendment last year covered only DOD funds, which amount to roughly $3 
billion annually. But the Federal Government provides an additional $8 
billion annually in grant and contract funding to colleges and 
universities through other departments and agencies such as HHS, 
Agriculture, and the National Science Foundation.
  Barring military recruiters is an intrusion on Federal prerogatives, 
a slap in the face to our Nation's fine military personnel, and an 
impediment to sound national security policy. We should draw the line 
on this in the 104th Congress, Mr. Speaker, I urge bipartisan support 
for the bill.


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