Keeping Our Military Ready: Why Radical Social Experimentation In Our Armed Forces Must End
October 24, 2017 12:00 ET

Last year, without any systematic study of the consequences, the Obama administration reversed longstanding policies that excluded those who identify as transgender, on both psychological and medical grounds, from serving in the U.S. military. The armed services immediately stopped discharging existing service members who suffer from gender dysphoria (unhappiness with their biological sex at birth). Phase Two of the Obama policy, allowing the military to recruit people who identify as transgender, was due to take effect on July 1. Thankfully, the Trump administration intervened to stop this radical social experimentation and political correctness from negatively affecting the military's true purpose: to fight and win wars. Defense Secretary James Mattis announced a last-minute delay of 6 months.

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.) has been a key voice in raising this issue in Congress. Her amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which would have prohibited the use of taxpayer money to pay for gender reassignment surgery or hormone treatments intended to change the gender of a service member, was narrowly defeated — but it helped focus attention on this issue. Although there is a current reprieve, the fight is still ongoing.

Come join Rep. Hartzler as she shares vital insights and gives updates on where the fight for our military currently stands.

Vicky Hartzler proudly represents the good people of Missouri's 4th Congressional District which is comprised of 24 counties in West-Central Missouri. Vicky grew up on a farm in Cass County, learning the value of hard work, family values, and a reliance on God. These values have guided her life as she attended and graduated from Archie High School, the University of Missouri, and the University of Central Missouri. They inspired her as she taught public school for 11 years in Lebanon and

Belton, and as she joined her husband in a small business. Vicky began her public service in 1994 when she successfully ran for State Representative in the Missouri General Assembly, where she served for six years. She was elected to Congress in 2010 and serves on the House Armed Services and Agriculture Committees. She is serving her second term as Chairwoman of the House Armed Services Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee and is the Chairwoman of the House Values Action Team. Vicky, her husband Lowell, and their daughter, Tiffany, reside on a working farm near Harrisonville in Cass County.

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