[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 120 (Thursday, July 13, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H3489]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1115
                         CHARTING A NEW COURSE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Yakym). The Chair recognizes the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bean) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BEAN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, how would you explain to General 
George S. Patton that an American President believes a drag show 
digital ambassador gives our military a strategic advantage?
  It sounds absurd, but what is even more absurd is it is true.
  The United States military is the greatest fighting force in the 
world. America's warfighters risk their lives so we can all be free. 
They are driven by patriotism and a sense of service and honor.
  Yet, since the outset of this administration, we have seen our 
servicemen and -women, the source of our strength and national 
security, sacrificed on the altar of wokeness. Meanwhile, our 
adversaries are aggressively undermining American interests around the 
globe as danger knocks on our front door.
  As we speak, Mr. Speaker, China is creating an outpost just over 90 
miles from the Florida coast. It is all part of China's long game.
  It is why they have been stealing our stuff, intellectual property 
from Americans, buying farmland near our military bases, invading our 
airspace with a spy balloon, and infiltrating our education system.
  While this administration has been obsessed with culture wars, China 
has been focused on defeating America.
  While West Point was teaching cadets about preferred pronouns, China 
has been focused on defeating America.
  While this administration was funneling taxpayer dollars to host drag 
queen story hours on military bases, China has been focused on 
defeating America.
  Our military exists to provide for the common defense of our Nation, 
not parroting woke insanity. These far-left policies, Mr. Speaker, have 
harmed recruitment, retention, and morale.
  It has undermined our military readiness and wasted precious time and 
taxpayer dollars, but House Republicans have a plan to chart a new and 
different course.
  The 2024 National Defense Authorization Act puts an end to taxpayer 
dollars funding critical race theory teaching, guts diversity, equity, 
and inclusion programs, and eliminates taxpayer-funded drag shows, 
story hours, and digital ambassador programs. It prevents the 
authorization of a military Green New Deal.
  Under the leadership of Speaker McCarthy, House Republicans are 
focused on honoring the legacy of our Nation's veterans, like the 
72,000 who call the Fourth District of Florida home, and ensuring our 
military is lethal and ready because woke politics won't stop a single 
bullet or a communist invasion.
  We, the people, deserve a military that doesn't cater to any other 
credo other than America first.

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