[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 23 (Thursday, March 3, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H946]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   MILITARY READINESS ENHANCEMENT ACT

  (Mr. MEEHAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to 
support H.R. 1059, the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, bipartisan 
legislation to repeal the military's senseless Don't Ask, Don't Tell 
policy.
  With our troops spread thin in Iraq and Afghanistan, our military is 
having serious problems meeting personnel requirements. The Army missed 
its February recruiting goals by 27 percent. Yet under the Don't Ask, 
Don't Tell, we are discharging thousands of experienced, dedicated 
servicemembers simply because of their sexual orientation.
  Hundreds of people let go under the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy have 
skills that are critical to the war on terror, including translators 
and linguists. These soldiers have the courage to fight and the skills 
our military needs. There is no reason we should not allow them to 
serve their country. It is time for Congress to put national security 
interests first. It is time to repeal the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy 
so we can keep the United States military the strongest in the world.

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