IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 124 

Expressing opposition to banning service in the Armed Forces by openly 

transgender individuals. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 11, 2019 

Mr. KENNEDY (for himself, Ms. SPEIER, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Mr. JOHNSON of 

Georgia, Ms. JACKSON LEE, Mr. NADLER, Mr. GRIJALVA, Ms. NORTON, 

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, 

Mr. LOWENTHAL, Ms. BROWNLEY of California, Mr. SERRANO, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Mr. GALLEGO, Mr. HASTINGS, Ms. DEGETTE, Mr. PAPPAS, 

Mr. GOMEZ, Ms. PORTER, Mr. ESPAILLAT, Ms. WILD, Mrs. WATSON

COLEMAN, Mr. MCGOVERN, Ms. DEAN, Ms. WEXTON, Mr. CRIST, Mr. 

QUIGLEY, Ms. SCANLON, Ms. MENG, Mrs. DINGELL, Mr. PAYNE, Ms. 

CLARK of Massachusetts, Mr. BROWN of Maryland, Mr. RASKIN, Mr. 

PALLONE, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Mr. EVANS, Mr. WELCH, Ms. PINGREE, Mr. KHANNA, Ms. HILL of California, Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York, Mr. SIRES, Ms. DAVIDS of Kansas, Ms. TLAIB, Mr. 

CICILLINE, Mr. PANETTA, Mr. COX of California, Mrs. CRAIG, Ms. 

VELA ́ZQUEZ, Ms. WATERS, Mr. LYNCH, Ms. HOULAHAN, Mr. CARBAJAL, 

Mr. ENGEL, Ms. BARRAGA ́N, Mr. DEUTCH, Mr. SCHIFF, Mr. MCEACHIN, 

Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER, Ms. HAALAND, Mr. KEATING, Ms. ESHOO, Ms. 

GABBARD, Ms. DELBENE, Mr. KILMER, Mr. NORCROSS, Ms. PRESSLEY, 

Mr. GOLDEN, Mr. CA ́RDENAS, Ms. TITUS, Mr. SOTO, Mr. HUFFMAN, Mr. 

HIGGINS of New York, Mr. HIMES, Mr. PETERS, Mr. CLAY, Mr. THOMPSON of California, Mrs. KIRKPATRICK, Mr. CISNEROS, Mr. TRONE, Mr. 

ROSE of New York, Ms. MATSUI, Mr. MORELLE, Mr. SWALWELL of California, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. MALINOWSKI, Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire, Mr. DESAULNIER, Mr. TONKO, Mr. SABLAN, Ms. BONAMICI, Mr. 

NEAL, Mr. COHEN, Mrs. TRAHAN, Mr. MEEKS, Mrs. DAVIS of California, 

Ms. MUCARSEL-POWELL, Mr. LUJA ́N, Mr. TAKANO, Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI, Mr. CROW, Mr. LEVIN of Michigan, Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ, Mrs. 

NAPOLITANO, Mr. CARSON of Indiana, Ms. GARCIA of Texas, and Ms. 

LOFGREN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Armed Services 


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•HRES 124 IH 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing opposition to banning service in the Armed 

Forces by openly transgender individuals. 

Whereas, on July 26, 2017, President Trump announced via 

Twitter that the United States Government would reverse 

the existing policy of allowing transgender servicemembers to serve openly in order to implement a ban on 

transgender people from serving in the Armed Forces; 

Whereas transgender servicemembers have served openly 

since 2016, bravely defending our Nation with distinction 

while preserving unit cohesion and contributing to military readiness; 

Whereas a 2016 study by the RAND Corporation found that 

allowing transgender Americans to serve openly in the 

Armed Forces would ‘‘have minimal impact on readiness 

and health care costs’’ and ‘‘little or no impact on unit 

cohesion, operational effectiveness or readiness’’; 

Whereas thousands of transgender Americans currently serve 

actively in the Armed Forces and in the Reserves 

throughout all branches and military occupational specialties; 

Whereas the American Medical Association, the American 

Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and three former military Surgeons General 

each have affirmed the medical efficacy of transition-related care and have expressed opposition to President 

Trump’s discriminatory ban; 

Whereas the claims attempting to justify President Trump’s 

ban are based on flawed scientific and medical assertions; 


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•HRES 124 IH 

Whereas the Department of Defense report from 2018 falsely 

asserts there is ‘‘considerable scientific uncertainty’’ regarding the efficacy of transition-related care; 

Whereas there is a global medical consensus that such care 

is effective, safe, and reliable; 

Whereas the Department of Defense has failed to provide evidence the existing policy has impaired morale, unit readiness, or unit cohesion; 

Whereas all five military Chiefs of Staff have testified publicly that the existing policy has had no adverse effect on 

military readiness; 

Whereas, on August 1, 2017, fifty-six retired generals and 

admirals released a statement affirming, ‘‘This proposed 

ban, if implemented, would cause significant disruptions, 

deprive the military of mission-critical talent, and compromise the integrity of transgender troops who would be 

forced to live a lie, as well as non-transgender peers who 

would be forced to choose between reporting their comrades or disobeying policy’’; 

Whereas at least 18 nations allow transgender people to serve 

openly and effectively in their armed forces; 

Whereas transgender members of the Armed Forces have 

fought in defense of our freedoms with honor and distinction since our Nation’s founding and have been bestowed 

with such commendations and awards as the Bronze Star 

and Purple Heart for their courage and sacrifices; 

Whereas President Trump’s ban on transgender members of 

the Armed Forces targets and stigmatizes a whole class 

of people; and 

Whereas President Trump’s ban on transgender members of 

the Armed Forces would affect all transgender members 


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•HRES 124 IH 

of the Armed Forces and force them to serve under a policy that stigmatizes and devalues their contributions to 

our Nation’s defense: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) strongly opposes President Trump’s dis3 criminatory ban on transgender members of the 

4 Armed Forces; 

5 (2) rejects the flawed scientific and medical 

6 claims upon which it is based; and 

7 (3) strongly urges the Department of Defense 

8 to not reinstate President Trump’s ban on transgen9 der members of the Armed Forces and to maintain 

10 an inclusive policy allowing qualified transgender 

11 Americans to enlist and serve in the Armed Forces. 

Æ 


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