Lee Announces Town Hall for Military Community and Veterans
Aug 14, 2014
SALT LAKE CITY – Senator Lee announces an upcoming town hall meeting that will focus on the needs of Utah’s veterans and military community. The event will be held on August, 26 at 7:30 – 9:00 p.m. At the Ed Kenley Centennial Amphitheater in Layton.
"As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I have an important responsibility in guiding the actions Congress takes to maintain the capabilities of our armed forces to provide for our national defense,” Lee explains. "I also have the responsibility to ensure that we provide veterans who have served the country with the benefits and recognition that they deserve. The feedback I receive from those who are part of the military community is crucial in helping me effectively fulfill these responsibilities.”
This event will provide a valuable opportunity for the military and veteran community to meet Senator Lee and the members of his staff that advise the senator on legislation related to the military and veterans. His staff that helps veterans with federal casework will also be in attendance to offer their services to veterans that need additional help working with federal agencies such as the Department of Veterans Affairs.
All are invited to attend, but for those who are unable to attend, Senator Lee has made a form available on his website where constituents can leave their feedback or questions for the Senator to address during the town hall meeting. This form can be found here:
lee.senate.gov/UTVETMIL
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Statement on Lee amendment #174 To Strengthen Protection of Religious Freedom in the Military
Jun 13, 2013
Thank you Mr. Chairman. I would like to call up my amendment #174 to strengthen the protection of Religious Freedom in the Military. This amends section 533 to clarify that expressions of belief that do not have an adverse impact on military readiness and good order and discipline are to be accommodated by the Armed Services.
Recent news reports about the Air Force meeting with organizations that try to subvert religious expression in the military have many around the United States concerned about the environment that is being created in the Armed Services. The leader of one of these organizations called Christians “monsters who terrorize their fellow Americans by forcing their weaponized and twisted version of Christianity upon their helpless subordinates in our nation’s armed forces” and equated sharing one’s religion as “spiritual rape”.
For many of our men and women in uniform, their faith and religious beliefs are what sustain them through the enormous pressures and stresses of the battlefield, the months away from loved ones with little communication, the life-changing injuries, and the loss of close friends.
If an environment is created where those service members feel that expressing their religion, sharing their faith, or showing outward representation of their beliefs could be found in violation of military policy and grounds for reprimand, it will have an unsettlingly negative effect on military morale and undermine recruitment, retention, and cohesiveness efforts.
I understand that a delicate balance must be struck in the military so that good order and discipline are preserved. I believe that my amendment strikes that balance. Nothing in this would preclude disciplinary or administrative action for conduct that is proscribed by the UCMJ, and commanders would have the ability to maintain readiness and discipline in their ranks.
Our servicemen and women put their lives on the line everyday in order to protect our constitutionally guaranteed rights, including the expression of our beliefs. Congress must ensure that we are protecting them as well.