[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 40 (Thursday, March 21, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E408]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              FISCAL YEAR 1996 OMNIBUS APPROPRIATIONS BILL

                                 ______


                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 20, 1996

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to applaud my 
colleagues in the Senate for adding by voice vote an amendment to the 
fiscal year 1996 omnibus appropriations bill that repeals the 
requirement that all HIV-positive members of the military be dismissed. 
In a show of bipartisanship, the appropriations bill was passed by the 
Senate 79-21, and was supported by Senators Connie Mack, John McCain, 
and Sam Nunn among others.
  The HIV provision, which was included in the fiscal year 1996 Defense 
authorization bill that was signed by the President on February 10, 
discharges within 6 months the 1,049 dedicated HIV-positive men and 
women who have been serving their country without fail for years. Half 
of these servicemembers are married and, on average, have served in the 
military for more than a decade.
  This provision immediately cuts off health care benefits to the 
servicemembers' dependents. Therefore, this new policy will not only 
deprive many men and women of their livelihood, but will leave their 
families--their spouses and children--without health care.
  All of the individuals who will be impacted by this provision are 
able to perform their jobs. They are senior officers, lawyers, computer 
specialists, intelligence officers, missile specialists, doctors, 
mechanics and others. Replacing them and retraining new servicemembers 
is not only unjust, it is inefficient.
  This unnecessary measure was neither sought nor supported by the 
Department of Defense. Both the Assistant Secretary for Force 
Management Policy and the Army's Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel 
have stated that the provision would do nothing to improve military 
readiness while depriving the Armed Forces of experienced individuals 
who are ready and able to perform their assigned duties.
  Furthermore, the number of servicemembers infected with HIV is small, 
comprising less than one-tenth of 1 percent of the active force. 
Current law already requires that such individuals be separated or 
retired when their condition makes them unfit to perform their duties.
  This provision is unwise and unjust--it hurts not only those men and 
women who are serving our country with distinction but also their 
families. This provision kicks HIV-infected servicemembers when they 
are down and I hope that this body will follow the Senate's lead and 
repeal it.

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