[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 123 (Tuesday, July 18, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H3647]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      MILITARY RECRUITMENT IS DOWN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Jackson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. JACKSON of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, recruitment is down in 
the military. Fewer young people are joining, in part because 
unemployment is low and they have higher paying options elsewhere.
  I would love to show young people that the military is still a good 
option for them, as it was for me. In order to do that, I need some 
help from my friends across the aisle. I need them to put the dog 
whistle down.
  Each year's class of new recruits to our military is now the most 
diverse in the history of our Nation. Every time they blow the dog 
whistle against diversity, it is not just their political base that 
hears it, it is young people who are trying to decide whether to enlist 
in our All-Volunteer Force.
  Last week's debate over the defense bill featured a series of very 
clear dog whistles. There was one for gay people, one for transgender 
people, one for Black people, and one for women. Don't remember? They 
ran amendments on Pride flags, diversity programs, books in libraries, 
and abortion. Those were all dog whistles for their base. Our generals 
asked for none of that.
  One of our colleagues even went so far as to say that the military's 
strength ``is not its diversity.'' Someone in this building explicitly 
defended white nationalism in our military.
  When it comes to recruitment, I assure you, that is not helping.
  Caring about the military means caring about the people who serve in 
it, not using them as a political punching bag. If you want to help 
solve the recruitment problem, the first thing you need to do is stop 
attacking the people we need to enlist.

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