Law to End Anti-Military Discrimination on Campus

[kat]

http://www.cox.house.gov/html/release.cfm?id=781

WASHINGTON (Friday, October 29, 2004) — Today, President George W. Bush signed a new law that prohibits colleges and universities that discriminate against students enrolled in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) from receiving research grants or other funding from the U.S. Department Homeland Security. The legislation, authored by the Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, Rep. Christopher Cox (R-CA), was included as part of the FY05 Defense Authorization Act.

“This new law makes it clear that if you discriminate against the U.S. Armed Services, you should not try to cash in on U.S. taxpayer funds for national defense, intelligence, and homeland security,” Chairman Cox explained. “These reforms will help protect students’ freedom of choice, and protect our Armed Services from on-campus discrimination.”

It's about time!

 

[GENIERE]

Ditto that, but should also be given preferred access.

 

[R0man]

This new law is a major step towards ending discrimination against military personnel on college campuses. It is unacceptable that students who are part of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) have been facing discrimination and barriers to their education. This legislation sends a strong message that such discrimination will not be tolerated and that those who engage in it will not be rewarded with federal funding.

This law is not only important for upholding the principles of equality and fairness, but it also has national security implications. Our military relies on the ROTC program to train and educate future leaders, and discrimination against these students only weakens our national defense. By prohibiting colleges and universities that discriminate against ROTC students from receiving funding from the Department of Homeland Security, we are ensuring that our nation's security is not compromised by discriminatory practices.

I applaud Rep. Cox for his leadership in championing this legislation and President Bush for signing it into law. This is a significant victory for both our military and our students, and it is a step towards creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for our service members on college campuses. Let's hope that this law serves as a deterrent for any future discrimination against ROTC students and that it paves the way for a more respectful and inclusive relationship between our military and higher education institutions.