Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ) is under fire for using the term “colored people” while debating an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act, with his words later being stricken from the congressional record.
Crane was discussing an amendment that would bar the Department of Defense from considering race, politics, gender, or religion when recruiting, training, or making hiring and promotion decisions when he used the outdated term, causing uproar from Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH).
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“Though that was unbelievably inspiring, my amendment has nothing to do with whether or not colored people or black people or anybody can serve, OK?” Crane said in response to Beatty’s earlier remarks.
Beatty then interrupted, calling on the presiding officer of the House, but Crane continued with his remarks.
“What we want to preserve and maintain is the fact that our military does not become a social experiment,” he continued. “We want the best of the best. We want to have standards that guide who’s in what unit, what they do, and I’m gonna tell you guys right now: The Russians, the Chinese, the Iranians, the North Koreans, they are not doing this because they want the strongest military possible. I hope my colleagues on the other side can understand what we’re doing. Thank you so much.”
Beatty, a former chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, then asked for recognition to have Crane’s use of the term “colored people” removed from the congressional record.
“I’d like to be recognized to have the words ‘colored people’ stricken from the record. I find it offensive and very inappropriate,” Beatty said.
“I am asking for unanimous consent to take down the words of referring to me or any of my colleagues as ‘colored people,’” she continued.
Crane then requested to amend his remarks to say “people of color” instead of “colored people,” to which Beatty said she wanted the words removed from the record, not amended. Beatty’s request for the words to be stricken was passed on unanimous consent.
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The amendment being debated passed in a 214-210 vote.
The GOP-controlled House voted in favor of several amendments, including ones restricting abortion, climate change, and transgender issues, among others, which could jeopardize support for the NDAA in the Democratic-controlled Senate. Democratic leaders in the House have said they will vote against the NDAA in its current form.
