Bill Text: NJ AR136 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Expresses opposition to President Trump's decision prohibiting individuals who are transgender from serving in military.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-03-05 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee [AR136 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-AR136-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman VALERIE VAINIERI HUTTLE
District 37 (Bergen)
SYNOPSIS
Expresses opposition to President Trump's decision prohibiting individuals who are transgender from serving in military.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution expressing opposition to President Trump's decision to prohibit individuals who are transgender from serving in the military.
Whereas, On July 26, 2017, President Donald J. Trump announced that "the United States government will not accept or allow transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. military," citing fiscal and readiness concerns; and
Whereas, This abrupt decision is a departure from the current and settled position of the United States Department of Defense, which permits transgender persons to serve openly in the military and prohibits discharge or other separation based merely on one's identification as transgender; and
Whereas, In 2016, the RAND Corporation, commissioned by former Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter, issued a report entitled, "Assessing the Implications of Allowing Transgender Personnel to Serve Openly," in which it "(1) identif[ied] the health care needs of the transgender population, transgender service members' potential health care utilization rates, and the costs associated with extending health care coverage for transition-related treatments; (2) assess[ed] the potential readiness implications of allowing transgender service members to serve openly; and (3) review[ed] the experiences of foreign militaries that permit transgender service members to serve openly"; and
Whereas, Ultimately, that study concluded that the impact on readiness and health care costs would be minimal, particularly as it related to active-component Military Health System health care costs, commensurate with the small percentage of transgender personnel and the low estimated utilization rates; and
Whereas, Following issuance of the study and other assessments ordered by former Defense Secretary Carter, he indicated that the military would be moving in a new direction, lifting the ban on transgender persons serving openly and referencing the many transgender individuals already deployed and serving honorably in various capacities in the military; and
Whereas, President Trump's announcement swiftly nullified the progress made under former Defense Secretary Carter and left many questions unanswered, including the status of those openly transgender persons currently on active duty; and
Whereas, It is dangerous policy to base eligibility for military service on factors unrelated to fitness and ability to serve and an affront to all transgender individuals who proudly and dutifully commit themselves to such service; and
Whereas,
Thus, it is altogether fitting and proper that this House express its
opposition to President Trump's decision; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House expresses its opposition to and disapproval of President Donald J. Trump's decision to prohibit individuals who are transgender from serving in the military.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the President and Vice President of the United States, the United States Secretary of Defense, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, and each member of Congress elected thereto from this State.
STATEMENT
This resolution expresses opposition to and disapproval of President Donald J. Trump's decision to prohibit individuals who are transgender from serving in the military.
