VIDEO: Hirono Speaks Out Against Reckless Republican Hold on Military Officer Promotions, Highlights Risk to U.S. National Security

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Chair of the Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, delivered remarks on the Senate floor speaking out against Senator Tommy Tuberville’s (R-AL) ongoing hold on numerous military officer promotions, thereby putting U.S. national security at risk. Senator Tuberville has delayed the promotions of over 160 servicemembers, thus far, because of the Department of Defense’s (DOD) policy that allows servicemembers to access reproductive health care, regardless of the state where they are stationed.

“In the Senate, we have a long history of bipartisan support for our armed services and our servicemembers,” said Senator Hirono during her remarks. “What is not usual is for one member of the Senate to put a hold on hundreds of nominees because, let’s face it, for political and ideological reasons.”

“So while we may disagree about military policy—obviously we do—we have always kept the readiness of our forces above politics,” continued Senator Hirono. “But now, the Senator from Alabama is intentionally politicizing our military.”

“By blocking numerous promotions, simply because he’s upset that the DOD is doing its part to protect our servicemembers and addressing their needs,” said Senator Hirono. “Our servicemembers, our women, have a need to access appropriate reproductive care.”

“Because of the Senator’s reckless posturing and unyielding stance, the promotions of more than 160 flag officers—men and women who have dedicated their lives to serving our country—are already being delayed. And these delays pose a grave and growing threat to our national security and the readiness of our troops,” said Senator Hirono.

“With this Dobbs decision, we now have 80,000 women servicemembers now stationed in states where they can’t fully access reproductive care,” continued Senator Hirono. “To address this crisis, brought on by the Supreme Court’s decision, the DOD adopted a common sense policy to allow those servicemembers to travel to get the care they need. And to be clear, this policy does not cover the cost of abortions—we are not talking about taxpayer-paid abortions.”

“Our servicemembers put their lives on the line for our country—they deserve better than to be used as political props,” concluded Senator Hirono.

Senator Hirono’s full remarks are below and video is available for download here.

M. President, as a member of the Senate Armed Services committee and Chair of the Readiness Subcommittee, I rise today deeply opposed to the dangerous posturing of my colleague from Alabama in playing with our national security—that’s what it’s coming down to. So in the Senate, we have a long history of bipartisan support for our armed services and our servicemembers. What is not usual is for one member of the Senate to put a hold on hundreds of nominees because, let’s face it, for political and ideological reasons—I don’t know how else you would characterize his actions. So while we may disagree about military policy—obviously we do—we have always kept the readiness of our forces above politics. But now, the Senator from Alabama is intentionally politicizing our military. And you all can stand there all you want and say you’re not politicizing, oh really? I beg to differ.

By blocking numerous promotions, simply because he’s upset that the DOD is doing its part to protect our servicemembers and addressing their needs. Our servicemembers, our women, have a need to access appropriate reproductive care. Now this wasn’t an issue before because, guess what, we didn’t have a Supreme Court that upended almost 50 years of a constitutional right that women in this country had. So, why is this important? Because we never had a Dobbs decision before, but now we have, that’s what we have to live with. So, because of the Senator’s reckless posturing and unyielding stance, the promotions of more than 160 flag officers—men and women who have dedicated their lives to serving our country—are already being delayed. And these delays pose a grave and growing threat to our national security and the readiness of our troops. And in the next several months, we are set to consider the nominations of nearly half—nearly half—of the members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, including the Chairman.

At a time when we face growing threats around the world, leaving these roles unfulfilled would have catastrophic consequences for our military and our national security. Just yesterday, Secretary Austin was before the Armed Services Committee, on which Senator Tuberville and I both sit. And he told us, Secretary Austin told us, “Not approving the recommendations for promotions actually creates a ripple effect through the forces that makes us far less ready than we need to be.” What’s worse, this hold is all because the Department of Defense is allowing servicemembers to access reproductive health care, something well within the Department’s authority. As a result, as I mentioned, of the Supreme Court’s disastrous Dobbs decision, nearly 80,000 women servicemembers—you know what? You care about recruiting and retaining servicemembers, how about wanting to retain and recruit female servicemembers? So, with this Dobbs decision, we now have 80,000 women servicemembers are now stationed in states where they can’t fully access reproductive care.

To address this crisis, brought on by the Supreme Court’s decision, the DOD adopted a common sense policy to allow those servicemembers to travel to get the care they need. And to be clear, this policy does not cover the cost of abortions—we are not talking about taxpayer-paid abortions. You know, it would be really great if we could just adhere to facts. You say that this is really a roundabout way to pay for abortions, no this is a very direct way to meet the needs of our female servicemembers to get the health care and the reproductive care that they so plainly need. Secretary Austin has said that the health of our servicemembers must be a top priority—who can argue with that? I couldn’t agree more, and I applaud Secretary Austin’s leadership on this issue, but clearly, my colleague from Alabama is more concerned with pushing his ideological agenda than the realities our troops face.

M. President, our servicemembers put their lives on the line for our country—they deserve better than to be used as political props. And frankly, this obsession that the Republicans have to have power and control over women’s bodies—what’s up with that? For the sake of our country and our troops, I urge my colleague from Alabama, my colleague from Utah, to drop this dangerous crusade and confirm the military nominations en banc.

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