[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 83 (Friday, May 28, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E996]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2011

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                               speech of

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 27, 2010

       The House in committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 5136) to 
     authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2011 for military 
     activities of the Department of Defense, to prescribe 
     military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
     other purposes:

  Mr. FARR. Madam Chair, when we pass the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011, we take a historic step to 
restore equality in the ranks of our military by voting to repeal Don't 
Ask Don't Tell.
  Looking back in our history, social change occurred because of 
leadership. President Obama, our military leaders and gay Americans 
have shown leadership to overturn this discriminatory policy. 
Comparable to the leadership shown by President Truman in 1948 when he 
issued Executive Order 9981 that ordered the integration of the armed 
forces, we can be proud that the civil rights of all Americans who want 
to serve in our All Volunteer Forces is preserved. During its 17 year 
history, DADT has discharged far too many highly qualified and trained 
Arab linguists, doctors and mission critical specialists in every field 
and in every service who simply wanted to serve their country. For the 
last 17 years I been a Member of Congress who has fought to overturn 
this policy that has prohibited openly gay men and women from serving 
in the military.
  Madam Chair, as we move forward in the legislative process, you may 
be assured of my continued strong support for repeal of Don't Ask Don't 
Tell.

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