House Republicans decided to walk out en masse Tuesday afternoon, rather than vote on a bill before the Veterans Committee that would haver helped two million women vets.
Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA), who is the chairman of the committee, posted video of his colleagues exiting the room:
“My Republican colleagues had a seat at the table every step of the way,” Chairman Takano said in a statement. “Instead of bringing forth meaningful, productive additions to legislation that will improve the lives of women veterans, they added toxic, partisan amendments – none of which worked to address how women veterans receive care.”
“By attempting to hijack a bipartisan bill backed by 14 Veteran Service Organizations- including 6 specifically advocating for women veterans, they have left these veterans behind.”
Republicans were attempting to attach poison pill amendments to the legislation. As The Military Times notes, one amendment focused on VA day care credentialing issues, another on veterans’ firearm possession rights.
This is just the latest attack by Republicans on the nation’s service members today. Tuesday morning many Republicans and those loyal to President Donald Trump attacked a Purple Heart recipient, Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a current White House official who was on the president’s infamous July 25 call with the president of Ukraine.
Many on social media blasted the House Republicans for their actions: