Former Army Captain Steven Kling Condemns Chip Roy’s New Bill to Defund Critical Program at the Marine Corps University

“It is both inappropriate and ethically reprehensible that Congressman Roy would trivialize the sacrifices of our service members by choosing culture wars and cheap partisan politics over our military readiness.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Courage for America Council Member Steven Kling, a former United States Army Captain, combat veteran and TX-21 constituent, responded to news reports that Congressman Chip Roy (TX-21) introduced a bill late last week to defund the Reynolds Scholar Program at the Marine Corps University. The Reynolds Program is named after retired Lieutenant General Lori Reynolds, the third woman to earn the rank of Lieutenant General in Marine Corps history.

“Our military schools and institutions are critical components of our nation’s security apparatus and to the readiness of our military. It is unconscionable that Congressman Roy, like so many career politicians who have not served in uniform themselves, is joining continued efforts to weaken our military and country. From blocking critical appointments of military leadership to now stripping away important scholarships from our men and women in uniform, ideologues like Chip Roy continue to let their misguided, extreme views sow chaos and disharmony in our ranks,” said Courage for America Council Member Captain Steven Kling. “Those of us in uniform took a sacred oath to defend this country and protect the freedoms of every American. It is both inappropriate and ethically reprehensible that Congressman Roy would trivialize the sacrifices of our service members by choosing culture wars and cheap partisan politics over our military readiness. This is yet another example of MAGA extremists attempting to hold critical military and veteran services hostage – and it comes at the expense of our nation’s stability and security.”

Background information:

• Congressman Roy introduced a bill on Thursday to defund the Reynolds Scholar Program as an amendment to the House’s Department of Defense appropriations bill.
• The Marine Corps University is a federally funded professional military educational institute serving Marine, other service, international, and civilian students.
• The Reynolds Scholar Program was established as part of the Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2017 and is named after retired Lieutenant General Lori Reynolds, the third woman to earn the rank of Lieutenant General in Marine Corps history.

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