Rep. Eli Crane’s Amendment Proposal Sparks Controversy on House Floor Over Recruitment and Promotion Decisions

On Thursday, Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.) sparked controversy on the House floor when he referred to non-white Americans serving in the U.S. military as “colored people.” Crane, a member of the far-right House Freedom Caucus, had proposed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would prohibit the Defense Department from considering race, gender, religion, political affiliations or “any other ideological concepts” as the sole basis for recruitment or promotion decisions.

Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), the former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, took to the floor to argue that Crane’s amendment would set back rights gained by people of color and women. Beatty said that Crane’s language was “offensive and unacceptable” and that it was “unfortunate that we have to debate an amendment that seeks to limit the progress of people of color and women.”

In response to Beatty’s criticism, Crane said that his amendment had “nothing to do with whether or not colored people or Black people or anybody can serve.” He argued that his amendment was meant to ensure that recruitment and promotion decisions were based on merit, rather than on any other ideological concepts.

The amendment was ultimately voted down by the House. While Crane’s language was widely criticized, the debate over the amendment highlights the ongoing struggle to ensure that recruitment and promotion decisions in the military are based on merit, rather than on any other ideological concepts.