{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://mcbride.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mcbride-blasts-trumps-transgender-military-ban-demands-benefits-veterans", "Rep. McBride Blasts Trump\u2019s Transgender Military Ban, Demands Benefits for Veterans in NDAA Debate", "2025-09-09", "2025", "2025-09", "Democrat", "House", "DE", "Sarah McBride", "M001238", "mcbride.house.gov", "mcbride", "https://mcbride.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Sarah McBride (DE-AL) delivered floor remarks calling out the House Majority for not allowing votes on her two amendments she introduced to the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) \u2014 H.R. 3838.\n\nMcBride\u2019s amendments \u2014 Amendment #756 and Amendment #758 \u2014 address the Trump Administration\u2019s discriminatory ban on transgender military servicemembers and the denial of earned retirement benefits to veterans pushed out of service because of their gender identity.\n\nAmendment #756 repeals Donald Trump\u2019s executive order banning transgender people from serving in the military.\n\nAmendment #758 requires the Department of Defense to pay transgender servicemembers separated after 15\u201320 years of service their earned early retirement benefits under the Temporary Early Retirement Authority (TERA).\n\nFull transcript of her remarks:\n\n\u201cI know a few members of this chamber can\u2019t seem to muster any maturity when they have a transgender colleague. But members of the U.S. Armed Forces can \u2014 and have.\n\n\u201cFor years, transgender people have been serving in our military. There was no problem \u2014 until Donald Trump decided to fire thousands of qualified, capable servicemembers simply because of their gender identity.\n\n\u201cThese servicemembers were proudly serving \u2014 arm in arm with their peers \u2014 deploying, training, leading, sacrificing. They met the same standards, passed the same tests, earned the same promotions. And they were praised by their commanding officers.\n\n\u201cThere was no problem \u2014 until the Trump administration created a problem: removing thousands of loyal patriots from service, squandering the investments made in their training and careers, and disrupting lives and units.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s why I introduced an amendment to repeal this ban. Because this ban doesn\u2019t strengthen our military \u2014 it weakens it. It doesn\u2019t uphold our values \u2014 it betrays them. And it sends the cruelest message to some of our most devoted patriots: that one identity they hold matters more than their service.\n\n\u201cMy second amendment restores retirement benefits to transgender veterans who were forced out of the Armed Forces just shy of 20 years of service. Under the law, they should qualify for early retirement benefits just like anyone else would. Many received approval only to have it revoked simply because of their gender identity.\n\n\u201cThey wore the uniform. They kept their promise to us. It\u2019s time we keep ours to them.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s one thing for some of my colleagues to show me disrespect. But it\u2019s another thing entirely to disrespect the people who lay down their lives for this country.\n\n\u201cUnfortunately, the Majority in this body refuses to let us vote on these amendments. But I will not stop standing up for every patriot that serves our country. Which, until now, I thought was a noncontroversial and bipartisan idea. I yield back.\u201d\n\nFull video of her remarks are available for use and download here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://mcbride.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mcbride-blasts-trumps-transgender-military-ban-demands-benefits-veterans"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.7660800367593765, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}