Senator Gillibrand floor remarks on transgender military members

New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand urges a vote on a bipartisan amendment to the fiscal 2018 national Defense authorization which would prohibit the Defense Department from discharging members of the military or denying reenlistment opportunities because of gender identity. Julie Brand argues that kicking out thousands of servicemembers because of gender identity does not make the military stronger but weaker, wastes taxpayer money and underestimates those in uniform. Gillibrand compares arguments against such diversity compared to those of posing racial integration, that a transgender band announced by President Donald Trump effects individuals brave enough to join the military, tough enough to undergo vigorous military training, fight and die for the nation.