[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 169 (Saturday, December 18, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2180]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL REPEAL ACT OF 2010

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 15, 2010

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the 
repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
  Once again, the House of Representatives has acted to lift the ban on 
gay and lesbian Americans serving openly in the military by passing 
H.R. 2965, the ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010'', by a vote 
of 250-175. Earlier this year, the House also passed national defense 
authorization along with a repeal provision. I applaud Majority Leader 
Hoyer and Congressman Murphy for their leadership in this effort.
  Strong leadership has been, and remains, the key to successfully 
repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell and replacing it with a policy of 
inclusion and non-discrimination. It is now up to the Senate to seal 
the deal. I urge the Senate in the strongest possible terms to act as 
soon as possible to pass the legislation necessary to repeal Don't Ask, 
Don't Tell before the end of the year.
  I stand with President Obama, Defense Secretary Gates, Admiral 
Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the majority of 
servicemembers and Americans on this matter. It is clear from the 
Pentagon's recently concluded study that the 1993 Don't Ask, Don't Tell 
law runs counter to the values that our Armed Forces embody and, 
indeed, our brave men and women in uniform.
  Furthermore, it dispels the argument that Don't Ask, Don't Tell 
repeal would harm military readiness and unit cohesion. In fact, 
approximately 70 percent of servicemembers, including their families, 
support open service by gay and lesbian Americans and that Don't Ask, 
Don't Tell repeal would have no negative effects on their units' 
ability to ``work together to get the job done.''
  There is no doubt in my mind that the Pentagon will be able to move 
forward with repeal in a manner that ensures our military's readiness 
and our national security while meeting the needs of our servicemembers 
and their families.
  Despite everything that has already been said, however, there are 
those who will vote to preserve Don't Ask, Don't Tell. I can think of 
only one reason why anyone would vote to condone such a farce of a 
policy rather than support our troops, and that, Mr. Speaker, is 
prejudice.
  At this moment, we stand closer to repeal than ever before. I could 
go on and reiterate all the reasons why we should repeal Don't Ask, 
Don't Tell, but the time for talk is over. After 17 years of 
discussion, the only thing left remaining to do is to repeal it. It is 
the right thing to do for our troops, the American people, and our 
nation as a whole.

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