Faith, The GOP likes to talk a big game about how much they support our military. But Senate Republicans have enabled one of their members, Tommy Tuberville, to block promotions and pay raises for hundreds of service members — for months. All because of a single Pentagon policy decision that he disagrees with. And his blockade is having real consequences: - Leaving our national security at risk: the Secretary of Defense said so when I asked him, and former Secretaries of Defense from both parties have agreed with him.
- Leaving hundreds of military families in limbo: without formal assignments, they can't make decisions about moving or enrolling their kids at new schools for the fall, which is coming up fast.
- Leaving critical positions unfilled: We don't have a Chief of Staff of the Army or a Commandant of the Marine Corps because Senator Tuberville won't let us confirm them. And if this keeps going until October, we won't have a Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
All because of one senator who disagrees with one policy decision from the Defense Department to help service members and their families access needed health care. Specifically, to travel to access abortion care. So he's trying to impose his out-of-touch anti-abortion rights views on our service members, just like Republican extremists want to impose a nationwide ban. Look: it's no secret that I disagree with plenty of choices the Pentagon has made. And senators have tools we can use to help shape policy decisions, like writing legislation, holding oversight hearings, and meeting with administration officials. All part of how the system ought to work. But this type of blanket blockade is beyond irresponsible. Now, Faith, you may be wondering: how can one senator block all these nominees? Well, you know how the Senate has to confirm federal judges, ambassadors, cabinet members, and other top presidential nominees? The Senate also has to approve thousands of military promotions every year. Typically, those votes are just formalities. But Senator Tuberville is taking advantage of Senate procedural rules to hold all of them up. Indefinitely. It's time for Senate Republicans to stop enabling this out-of-control obstruction. I won't stop fighting to end this blockade, make sure our service members get the promotions and pay raises they've earned, and protect our national security. And here's the way I see it: we cannot, cannot, cannot allow this tactic to become another tool the Senate GOP uses to obstruct our government. Republicans have already shown that they're willing to leave a Supreme Court seat vacant if there's a Democrat in the White House. Republicans have already wielded the filibuster to block Democratic Senate majorities from passing bills that vast majorities of Americans support. Republicans have already weaponized the debt ceiling to extract policy demands that they otherwise wouldn't have enough votes to pass. It can't become similarly routine for service members and their families to be used as pawns. Also, make no mistake: it's no surprise that abortion rights are the underlying issue here. The American people support reproductive freedom, and Republican extremists know it, so they look for ways to enact their agenda without going through the ballot box. I'm going to stay on this, Faith. I'll keep fighting to overcome any escalation of the GOP's obstruction. I'll keep working to get things done for the American people. I'll keep pushing back as they try to rip away even more reproductive freedoms. And I'm always grateful to have your support. Thanks for being a part of this, Elizabeth | 
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