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THIS JUST IN!!!! DADT Repeal Introduced!

 

THIS JUST IN! BREAKING NEWS

Senator Feinstein Co-Sponsors Legislation to End Military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t” Tell Ban on Service by Gays and Lesbians!  Her floor statement is below too!

 Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today co-sponsored legislation that would repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy banning military service by gays and lesbians and prohibit discrimination in the military based on sexual orientation. “The time has come to repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’ It is the right thing to do. Every American should have the opportunity to serve their country, regardless of race, sex, creed, or sexual orientation,” Senator Feinstein said. “The criteria for serving one’s country should be competence, courage and willingness to serve. When we deny people the chance to serve because of their sexual orientation, we deprive them of their rights of citizenship, and we deprive our armed forces the service of willing and capable Americans.” The “Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2010” was introduced today by Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.). Senator Feinstein is among 14 co-sponsors. The bill would specifically do the following: • Prohibit the U.S. armed forces from discriminating based on sexual orientation. • Repeal the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, enacted in 1993. • Create a federal statute preventing discrimination against current and prospective members of the armed forces based on sexual orientation. • Direct the Pentagon Working Group, established by the Secretary of Defense and led by military leaders, to conduct a thorough study and recommend regulations to implement repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” • Require the Secretary of Defense to report to Congress within 180 days of the bill’s enactment on what actions have been taken to deny federal funds to any university that prevents establishment of an ROTC unit on campus. Background: Since 1993, roughly 13,000 U.S. service members have been discharged from the military under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. The Government Accountability Office estimates it has cost taxpayers more than $200 million to recruit and train replacements. Repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is supported by Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Defense Secretary Robert Gates; Navy Secretary Ray Mabus; and retired Secretary of State and former Joint Chiefs Chairman Colin Powell. According to the University of California, 25 countries have policies allowing gays to serve openly in their militaries, including 15 NATO countries, Australia and Israel. ### Statement of U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein in Support of the “Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2010” March 3, 2010 Mr. President, I rise to state my strong support for the “Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2010,” which would repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy in our armed forces. I am one who believes that the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy has done more harm than good. The policy has forced American citizens to choose between serving their country and being honest about who they are; and, even worse, it has led to the discharge of some 13,000 brave men and women because their sexual orientation was discovered. The criteria for serving in our armed forces should be competence, courage, and a willingness to serve; not race, gender, or sexual orientation. The “Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2010” would finally repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and create a policy of nondiscrimination in the military. That is the right thing to do, and I will support this legislation every step of the way. 2 The Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2010 The “Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2010” would: • Repeal the 1993 “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy; • Allow people who were removed under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” to re-enter the military; • Establish a policy of nondiscrimination in the Armed Forces to prevent discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation; and • Require a Pentagon Working Group established by the Department of Defense to issue recommendations on how to implement repeal throughout the military. The bill would also require the Secretary of Defense to report to Congress 180 days after enactment on what actions are being taken to ensure that any school that does not allow a ROTC unit on its campus does not receive federal funds. 3 Men and Women Discharged Under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” It is important for people to realize that “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is not an abstract policy. This policy has had real and harmful effects on our military readiness by denying able and willing men and women the opportunity to serve, and by requiring the discharge of brave individuals who have served courageously and even risked their lives for their country. Let me give you just a few of the thousands of examples: Anthony Woods, of Fairfield, California, graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and went on to serve two tours of duty in Iraq, including in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He earned the Bronze Star and Army Commendation Medal, and all 81 soldiers who served under his leadership in Iraq returned home safely to the United States. Mr. Woods was discharged from the U.S. Army in 2008 because of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” (Washington Post, June 28, 2009) 4 Major Margaret Witt joined the United States Air Force in 1987 and served as a flight nurse for 18 years. She received numerous awards, including the Meritorious Service Metal, Air Medal, and the Air Force Commendation Medal. In 2003, President Bush noted in citation that her “airmanship and courage directly contributed to the successful accomplishment of important missions under extremely hazardous conditions.” Major Witt was discharged six years ago after the Air Force received a tip that she was gay. Major Witt has challenged her case in court because, as she says, “I joined the Air Force because I wanted to serve my country. I have loved being in the military — my fellow airmen have been my family. I am proud of my career and want to continue doing my job. Wounded people never asked me about my sexual orientation. They were just glad to see me there.” The case is currently pending before the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, California. (San Francisco Chronicle, May 22, 2008). 5 Lieutenant Daniel Choi, originally from Orange County, California, also graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He is an Arabic linguist and served as an infantry officer in Iraq in 2006 and 2007, but he was recommended for discharge from the U.S. Army after announcing last year that he was gay. Lieutenant Choi has said that: “The lessons of courage, integrity, honesty and selfless service are some of the most important. . . . I refuse to lie to my commanders. I refuse to lie to my peers. I refuse to lie to my subordinates. I demand honesty and courage from my soldiers. They should demand the same from me.” The New York National Guard has recently indicated that they will allow Lieutenant Choi to begin participating in drills with the unit again. Lieutenant Colonel Paul Fanning, a spokesperson for the New York Guard, has stated: “We do not have an issue with it. It’s a deeply personal thing. To us a soldier is a soldier is a soldier.” (New York Times, February 11, 2010). Veteran U.S. Marine Bob Lehman, of San Diego, California, served in the Gulf War in the 1990s and was never dismissed for being gay. He has explained that, “Nobody in my unit knew artillery better than I did, including the officers. During combat, the gay thing didn’t even exist. My biggest fear was bringing my guys home alive.” However, Mr. Lehman has said he believes that the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy forces U.S. soldiers into a moral dilemma. “Marines don’t lie, cheat or steal. It was hard to lie… There was a lot of denial and depression because of the inability to be out openly, (the fear) that I might get fired.” (San Diego Union-Tribune, June 17, 2008). 6 Courageous men and women like these should be applauded for their service, not discharged for their sexual orientation. The “Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2010” would ensure that is the case and would require the military to readmit anyone who was discharged solely because of their sexual orientation and is otherwise willing and able to serve. Military Support for Repeal The “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy has long been a contentious one, and I do not state my support for repeal lightly. It is absolutely essential that we undertake this project with great care, so that repeal of the policy will enhance military readiness and the effect will be positive for all of our service members in the field. I am confident that we are up to the task of doing so. In the last few months alone, high ranking officials from various components of the military have come forward to say that repeal is not only feasible, it is the right thing to do. For example: 7 Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee that, “Speaking for myself and myself only, it is my personal belief that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would be the right thing to do. No matter how I look at the issue, I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that we have in place a policy which forces young men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens.” (Testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, February 2, 2010). Secretary of Defense Robert Gates testified at the same hearing that, “I fully support the president’s decision. The question before us is not whether the military prepares to make this change, but how we best prepare for it.” (Testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, February 2, 2010). Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus has said, “I support the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” I do think the president has come up with a very practical and workable way to do that to work through the working group that Secretary of Defense has set up, to make sure that we implement any change in the law that Congress makes in a very professional and very smooth manner, and without any negative impacts on the force.” (Testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, February 25, 2010). 8 Retired General Colin Powell issued an official statement expressing that, “In the almost 17 years since the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” legislation was passed, attitudes and circumstances have changed. I fully support the new approach presented to the Senate Armed Services Committee this week by Secretary of Defense Gates and Admiral Mullen.” (Washington Post, February 4, 2010). These military leaders believe repeal is not only feasible, it is right. According to the University of California, military leaders in many other countries agree. 25 countries currently have policies allowing gay service members to serve openly in their militaries, including 15 NATO countries, Australia and Israel. This year, Secretary Gates has appointed a Pentagon Working Group to study in great detail how repeal can be implemented in a manner that will enhance the readiness and effectiveness of our troops. This Group, led by Army General Carter Ham and Pentagon General Counsel Jeh Johnson, is tasked with engaging troops and their families at all levels of the armed forces to determine what changes will be necessary in regulations, in education and training practices, and in military policy to implement a policy of nondiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in our armed forces. The study will be careful, and the review will be comprehensive. 9 Conclusion The time has come to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the “Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2010.” I am confident that our military will be stronger and better when this bill becomes law. I thank the Chair. I yield the floor.

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