At Hearing on Navy & Marine Corps Budget, Murray Presses Secretary on Child Abuse Allegations at Child Development Centers; Reiterates Need to Pass Supplemental

Floor Speech

“Thank you very much to my Vice Chair, and Chair Tester, and thank you to our witnesses for joining us—and for your service to our country.

“At a time when we know some of our adversaries are making significant investments in their navies, we have to keep pace, and maintain strong investments for our Navy and Marine Corps.

“And that doesn’t just mean equipment!

“We have to invest in our men and women in uniform—getting them adequate training and equipment and making sure their families have support like child care, mental health care, safe, quality housing, and a lot more.

“And while we discuss what’s needed for the Navy and Marine Corps in FY25, I can’t neglect to mention that we must also finish the job on FY24 by passing the national security supplemental ASAP.

“Iran’s attacks over the weekend are a very stark reminder of the precarious moment that we are in, the pressing challenges we and our allies face across the globe—including the risk of further escalation of hostilities in the Middle East—and of the urgent need to pass the national security supplemental.

“It is critical we act, that we stand with our allies, that we deter escalation and more conflict—and of course, we know that American support can turn the tide for the war in Ukraine.

“For months, I have been insisting we pass a comprehensive and bipartisan national security supplemental I wrote with many of you who are here in this room, so I’m glad that the Speaker now seems to be moving in that direction.

“I look forward to working with Chairman Cole, Vice Chair Collins, ranking Member DeLauro to make this a reality.

“After so many months of needless delay from House Republicans, we’ve got to get this done. We need to get it right—as everyone in the room knows, the details matter—and show the world that there is bipartisan support to stand with our allies.

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“Mr. Secretary, last week, reporting from Military.com revealed deeply disturbing accounts of child abuse by Child Development Center employees at Navy installations.

“The investigation found that Navy rules prioritize protecting the institution, keep parents in the dark, and have minimal safeguards to guarantee accountability.

“According to the reporting, base commanders and military police units often don’t know who is responsible for reporting and investigating abuse at CDCs. And in one case, it took a full year before workers responsible for abuse were charged in a civilian court.

“The reporters interviewed a dozen families with similar stories of not being told when their child was injured, and in many cases, parents shouldered hefty legal bills to force the military branches to tell them what happened. I cannot emphasize enough how concerning and unacceptable that is.

“So, Mr. Secretary, I want to know: what is the Navy doing to investigate these reports and ensure those responsible are held accountable?

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“Men and women in uniform can only do their jobs if they know their kids are ok.”

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