[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 73 (Wednesday, May 25, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E957-E958]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2012

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. MIKE QUIGLEY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 24, 2011

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1540) to 
     authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2012 for military 
     activities of the Department of Defense and for military 
     construction, to prescribe military personnel strengths for 
     fiscal year 2012, and for other purposes:

  Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Chair, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 1540, the 
National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2012.
  More specifically, I rise in fierce opposition to provisions of this 
bill which seek to deter and derail the repeal of Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell.
  A repeal, which has been implemented only after the Department of 
Defense completed a comprehensive review of the issues associated with 
the repeal.
  A repeal, which has been implemented only after DOD solicited the 
views of nearly 400,000 active duty and reserve component 
Servicemembers.
  A repeal, which has been implemented only after DOD conducted one of 
the largest surveys in the history of the U.S. military.
  Still, we stand here today to consider a measure that demonstrates 
that this body doesn't believe that Secretary Gates and Admiral Mullen, 
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are right to support the repeal.
  I believe in our military's ability to evaluate and make 
recommendations, and I fully support their plan to implement repeal.

[[Page E958]]

  I urge my colleagues to do the same and oppose this bill.

                          ____________________