[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 12 (Tuesday, February 8, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E173-E174]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H. CON. RES. 36, EXPRESSING CONTINUED 
    SUPPORT OF CONGRESS FOR EQUAL ACCESS OF MILITARY RECRUITERS TO 
                    INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION

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                               speech of

                         HON. RICHARD W. POMBO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 2, 2005

  Mr. POMBO. Mr. Speaker, along with Congressman Gerald Solomon I 
introduced the original amendment in 1994 which clearly stated that if 
universities receive Federal funding, they must also allow military 
recruiters on campus.
  Congress was clear that if universities accept funding from the 
Federal Government, they must support the government at a basic level. 
It is a double standard for universities to be willing to accept all 
types of funding from the Federal Government, but are unwilling to 
support America's men and women training to defend the freedoms of our 
country.
  Congress passed the Solomon-Pombo amendment with the understanding 
that the military plays an indispensable role in securing the freedoms 
protected in our society. The Federal Government is responsible for 
protecting our borders, our safety, and our freedoms. It is the 
military that ensures the freedoms of college faculty and students to 
voice their opinions in our open and free society.
  The court ruling from the Third Circuit Court of Appeals is clearly 
flawed in a number of ways. It is not discriminatory for the military 
to maintain a ``don't ask; don't tell'' policy. In fact, the military's 
policy has been upheld by the courts in large part because Constitution 
explicitly states Congress' plenary power in this

[[Page E174]]

area. ``The Congress shall have Power . . . To make Rules for the 
Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces.''
  There is a widely held belief at America's universities that it is 
somehow unfair that the American military is disproportionately made up 
of minorities and those from a disadvantaged socioeconomic background. 
However, it is the height of hypocrisy to complain that too many of the 
sacrifices in the military are made by people from lower income groups 
and at the same time bar the military from recruiting at prestigious 
universities.
  Clearly, there is an antimilitary bias at many elite universities 
that has nothing to do with the military's policy of ``don't ask; don't 
tell.'' Too many of the spokespeople and prominent officials in 
academia are relentlessly anti military and antiwar regardless of the 
circumstances.
  The usual, tired complaints from the halls of academia ring 
especially hollow in the post 9/11 world. Who does the NYU Law School 
faculty believe will protect it from another terrorist attack on 
downtown New York if not the U.S. military?
  The complexity of our military systems creates a demand for recruits 
with a diverse backgrounds and education levels including bachelor 
degrees and law degrees. To restrict ROTC offerings on college campuses 
limits the pool of applicants necessary to run vital military systems.
  Conversely, men and women should have an option to prepare for 
military careers with the support of Federal Government. Restricting 
ROTC from campus limits and restricts career options.
  It is a double standard for universities to be willing to accept all 
types of funding from the Federal Government, but are unwilling to 
support America's men and women training to defend the freedoms of our 
country.
  I strongly urge all of my colleagues to vote for this resolution.

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