[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 87 (Thursday, June 10, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1072]
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. PAUL RYAN

                              of wisconsin

                    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. RYAN of Wisconsin. Madam Chair, Last week, the House of 
Representatives considered an amendment offered by Congressman Patrick 
Murphy to H.R. 5136, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2011, to repeal the Armed Forces personnel policy of ``don't ask, 
don't tell.'' Due to a death in the family, I was not present for the 
vote on the House floor. Had I been present, I would have voted against 
this amendment.
  While I believe no American should be denied the ability to serve 
their country because of their sexual orientation, it is important to 
balance this commitment to serve with the practical implications of 
this dramatic policy change.
  Defense Secretary Robert Gates and the Joint Chiefs of Staff 
repeatedly asked Congress to allow the Department of Defense the time 
to complete its comprehensive review of ``don't ask, don't tell'' 
before taking legislative action to change this policy. These requests 
were denied by the Majority, whose actions imply that Members of 
Congress are in a better position to determine personnel policies than 
military leaders themselves.
  We have a responsibility to consider the views of those men and women 
in uniform, and a duty to allow the leaders of our Armed Forces to 
finish their review before taking premature legislative action. By 
refusing to take into consideration the ongoing review by the 
Department of Defense, the Majority risks undermining the relationship 
between our elected leaders and the men and women serving our Nation. I 
have serious concerns with the potential for this preemptive decision 
to negatively impact our military's ability to recruit, retain, and 
ready servicemembers now and in the future.

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