Photo courtesy Steube's office: Rep. Greg Steube addresses Concerned Veterans for America.

Florida has removed many diversity initiatives from the state’s university system. Now, U.S. Rep. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, wants the same happening with the U.S. military.

The lawmaker filed more than a dozen amendments to the proposed defense budget in the U.S. House, many focused on removing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives, or DEI. He said the military needs to focus on military readiness.

"I filed thirteen amendments to this year's NDAA to ensure our military's budget prioritizes the safety and security of the American people,” Steube said in a statement.

“My amendments are commonsense and will make our nation safer and stronger. To name a few: Military personnel who chose to avoid the COVID-19 vaccine should be reinstated with backpay, DEI activities should not be funded in the Armed Forces, and state sponsors of terrorism should not be able to purchase U.S. real estate."

Steube wants Congress to prohibit the use of any federal funding for DEI activities in the Armed Forces, National Academies and Department of Defense.

That’s similar to a mandate just signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis ending DEI efforts at state colleges and universitys. Before that was even passed, New College of Florida eliminated DEI programs at the Sarasota public university.

 Three years after COVID-19 reached the U.S., Steube also said its time to reinstate anyone drummed out of the military over refusal to take a COVID-19 vaccine. He also wants cadets and midshipmen kicked out of military academies to be reinstated.

Steube also urged sanctions on property acquisition for those involved in Afghanistan’s mineral trade and anyone involved with foreign governments recognized as state sponsors of terrorism.

The Congressman also said he wants an accounting of money spent on the military conflict in Ukraine thoroughly accounted for moving forward. He wants the Defense Department’s Inspector General to provide a detailed audit on any U.S. resources sent to Ukraine provided within six months of passage of the budget.

"My amendment directing the DoD's Office of Inspector General to report to Congress on the U.S. taxpayer-funded assistance to Ukraine will provide critical transparency to the American people on the billions we sent to Ukraine, since this administration has failed to do so," Steube said.

Photo courtesy Steube's office: Rep. Greg Steube addresses Concerned Veterans for America.