[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 12 (Tuesday, January 30, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E112]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONFERENCE REPORT ON S. 1124, NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR 
                            FISCAL YEAR 1996

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                               speech of

                           HON. NANCY PELOSI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 24, 1996

  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise to urge my colleagues to oppose the 
fiscal year 1996 Department of Defense [DOD] authorization bill 
conference report. There are many reasons to defeat this conference 
report. One of the worst provisions contained in this bill would lead 
to the immediate discharge of the 1,049 service members infected with 
HIV, the virus that causes aids.
  The Department opposes this provision and does not believe that 
service members with HIV present a deployment problem. The DOD believes 
that members with HIV should be treated as any other service members 
with chronic, possibly fatal, medical conditions, and remain on active 
duty until such time as they cannot perform their duties.
  This provision is discriminatory because it treats people with HIV 
differently from the way people with other chronic diseases are 
treated.
  Current policy concerning service members who are not eligible for 
worldwide deployment, such as those with HIV, are sufficient. Service 
members become ineligible for worldwide deployment due to a number of 
medical reasons, such as diabetes, asthma, heart disease, cancer, and 
pregnancy. They still perform very significant duties but are 
restricted in overseas travel to remain close to adequate medical 
services.
  It is inappropriate to single out individuals with HIV disease for 
discharge from the Armed Services and in so doing, treat these 
individuals differently than the military treats other productive 
service members with chronic illnesses.
  The current policy has been in place since the Reagan administration 
and received the support of senior military officials. The policy is 
the product of serious analysis and deliberation by the Pentagon of the 
impact of individuals with HIV disease on military readiness. The 
Clinton administration has only moved to continue these policies, 
demonstrating bipartisan support for this approach.
  The presence of HIV-infected service members in the military does not 
adversely affect combat readiness or efficiency. These troops are still 
physically capable and are valuable to the Armed Services. Adopting 
this conference report would endorse unacceptable discrimination.

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