Completely Unacceptable: Ted Lieu SHAMES Republicans for “Un-American” Block of Hegseth Impeachment

Proud now to introduce the vice chair of the Democratic Caucus from California, Representative Ted Lieu. Thank you, Congressman DeLuzio. I'm so honored to be here with all of the current Democratic members who are veterans, as well as the incoming members who are veterans. We had a historic week last week when the American people sent a clear message to Capitol Hill and to Congress, they wanted a change. And part of that change is having a policy where we don't have forever reckless wars and to make sure we take care of our veterans. And we're going to grow the House Democratic Veterans Caucus by an additional dozen more members. One of the largest Democratic caucuses of veterans in modern history. And so I'm going to be here with Ranking Member Takano, who is going to explain to you. Something that happened just on the House floor that is completely unacceptable and un-American. And to do it on Veterans Day is shameful for the Republicans. They need to reverse what they just did. And with that, let me introduce Ranking Member Takano of the Veterans Committee. Thank you. Thank you, Congressman DeLuzio. Thank you, Congressman Ted Lieu. I am just outraged at what just happened. I was just on the Capitol steps standing next to Vice Chair Lieu and listened to the Speaker of the House. Of course. Commemorate this day, but just curious that he did not celebrate the fact that this House rammed through the Taking Care of America's Veterans Act on his voice vote. You would think that such a momentous piece of legislation that's to get that's together 60 bills would be something that speaker will be celebrating. But I think there's some embarrassment about the fact, about the way they did it. It was agendized. And by the way, this bill has been brought to the floor at the last minute. And it's definitely, I think, in response to the fact that we are going to be debating the Richard Star Act, which was brought to the floor by a bipartisan discharge petition. Now, why would the Speaker be embarrassed, and why wouldn't he want all of his members to go on record to vote on the Taking Care of America's Veterans Act? Maybe it has something to do with the fact that it imposes the largest cut to veterans' benefits in American history, $57 billion, an additional $3 billion are cuts to veterans who want to refinance their homes, active duty servicemen who are serving right now. Are going to find it more expensive because of this bill that they just rammed through on a voice vote. Now, my staff was negotiating technical changes to the bill on unanimous consent, on unanimous consent request, while they went to the podium and called for this voice vote. I am angry. I am ashamed of what this leadership has done. It is dirty pool, and I think they need to be held accountable for it. I'll introduce my colleague from Virginia, a fellow Naval Academy graduate, Elaine Lauria. Good afternoon. I want to thank all of our veterans, all of those currently serving in uniform and in harm's way. I have served here in the House on the Veterans Affairs Committee with Chairman Takano, and we always sought to work in a bipartisan manner to bring access to care and the best benefits to our veterans. And I look forward to returning to the House again in January to continue that goal. I would say as someone who has and will Again, represent a district with one of the highest concentrations of veterans in the country that we have to bring our sailors home, we have to end this war. We have the Ford carrier strike group, longest carrier deployment since Vietnam. Now the George H.W. Bush is deployed with no end in sight. The Eisenhower will deploy next Everything that this administration is doing, including cutting veterans' benefits, sending our sailors into harm's way, is being done irresponsibly, and we need to come together to correct these wrongs, to provide the benefits that our veterans deserve, and bring our sailors home. And I am proud now to introduce my former and future colleague, Salud Carbajal, himself a Marine Corps veteran from California. Thank you. Thank you, Elaine. And thank you, Congressman Deluzio, for bringing us today on this very important day to celebrate Veterans Day. It's shameful all the cuts to benefits to our veterans that our colleagues across the aisle are implementing. It's shameful all the things that Secretary Hegseth has been doing to wreck the morale and actually make us less ready as a military. This week, Republicans killed a vote. To proceed on impeaching Hegseth, choosing to protect him over our service members. The American people sent a strong message during last week's election. They are fed up with this administration's incompetence, chaos, and abuse of power. Hegseth and Trump led our country into a reckless and illegal war in Iran that has been raging for over 250 days. 250 days. Inflicting a massive human toll and financial toll on our armed services. Beyond the war, there is a long list of reasons why Hegseth must go. His extrajudicial killings, ignoring congressional oversight, leaking sensitive military operations, remember Signalgate, and much, much more. I could go on, but in closing, I have to say, I said it before and I will say it again, Hexeth, get the hell out. Get the hell out of the Pentagon. You're incompetent now, and you were incompetent then. Our service members, veterans, military families, and the American people deserve better, better leadership of the Department of Defense. Subscribe to One India and never miss an update. Download the One India app now.