WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote this week on a resolution introduced by Rep. Joe Kennedy III (D-Mass.) expressing opposition to the Trump administration’s policy restricting persons with gender dysphoria from serving in the military.

In response, Terry Schilling, executive director of American Principles Project, released the following statement urging House members to reject the measure:

“The U.S. Military’s primary concern is to defend American citizens and their interests, at home and abroad. Every one of the Pentagon’s policies should be directed towards this end, as should every tax dollar allocated to the military. The Department of Defense’s new policy regarding individuals with gender dysphoria is fair, reasonable, and aims at this goal.

“This vote to oppose the policy is just more out-of-touch, progressive virtue-signaling by Democrats. Yet again, instead of concentrating on solving the real issues facing Americans — such as a dysfunctional healthcare system and the opioid crisis — House Democrats are spending time on another political stunt.

“During President Obama’s term, we saw a radical shift in the Pentagon’s approach to military readiness standards. Using a flawed study to justify recruitment of self-identified transgender service members, Obama’s DOD looked more like an Affirmative Action program than the world’s most powerful military force. Since 2016, we have spent close to $8 million on sex reassignment procedures for service members.

“There are many conditions that keep willing Americans from military service — such as diabetes, asthma, and depression — because the time and cost of extra medical attention cannot be spared, and the extreme duress of combat would be dangerous to those who suffer from mental anxieties. The DOD’s current policy rightly assesses that the distress caused by gender dysphoria is not compatible with a military lifestyle, and it allows for these same recruits to serve once they find healing and wholeness in their given bodies.

“Members of Congress should have no problem supporting this policy, and we urge them to reject the Democrats’ misguided resolution.”

Click here to read APP’s full position on the House resolution.

To schedule an interview with Terry Schilling, contact Paul Dupont at (o) 202-503-2010 or pdupont@americanprinciplesproject.org.