Democrats to focus on women, minorities in military personnel debates
By Leo Shane III
Mar 12, 2025, 02:00 PM
The top personnel Democrat on the House Armed Services panel said she’ll fight for more programs to support military women despite long political odds.
Rep. Chrissy Houlahan plans to fight for increased access to abortion services for military members and a better emphasis on support programs for women and minority veterans, even if she knows neither is likely to gain traction this year.
“Elections have their consequences, and right now the Republicans have the majority in the House and the Senate and the White House,” said Houlahan, D-N.J., and the senior Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee’s military personnel panel. “So I won’t be able to determine whether or not that piece of legislation gets to the floor for consideration.
“But it’s really important that people out there hear that there are people in Congress who very much believe in your right as a person, either who is wearing the uniform or a family member, to be able to travel for that care that you need.”
Houlahan, who served as the ranking member of the committee’s special quality of life panel last year, took over the key minority leadership role for personnel issues this year and will be a featured foil for many Republican social issue priorities in military policy.
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2025/03/12/democrats-to-focus-on-women-minorities-in-military-personnel-debates/