(Texas Scorecard) – U.S. Rep. Colin Allred has signed a letter urging the removal of provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act that restrict funding for transgender surgeries and LGBT activities in the military.

The Hill reported that in June, Congress passed the NDAA with provisions that would restrict access to funding for gender mutilating surgeries as well as certain LGBT activities such as drag shows for military members and their families.

In a letter to the House and Senate Committees on Armed Services, 160 Democrats, including Allred, called for the removal of these provisions, citing, “If service members are concerned for their health care, their right to exist, or the well-being of their children and loved ones, they cannot focus on their jobs, thereby weakening military readiness and retention rates.”

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“We strongly urge you to remove these harmful sections from the NDAA during conference negotiations,” continued the letter.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee responded in a social media post on X: “Colin Allred and Ruben Gallego are as radical as they come. When did drag shows and trans surgeries become a priority for our military readiness?”

Allred is currently challenging U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz for his senate seat in the November election.

“Day after day, Colin Allred shows Texans who he really is,” a spokesperson from the Cruz Campaign stated. “He is a radical who will destroy Texas and America. His record on transgender issues puts our children and families at risk. The women and children of Texas simply cannot afford to have him as the next United States Senator representing Texas.”

The General Election is slated for November 5, 2024. Early voting runs from October 21 to November 1.