[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 76 (Tuesday, May 31, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1000]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            DON'T DELAY REPEAL OF ``DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL''

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                           HON. STEVE ISRAEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 31, 2011

  Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, last year, the House of Representatives 
approved historic legislation that repealed the Defense Department 
policy known as ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'' For too long, this 
discriminatory policy forced many patriotic Americans who wanted to 
serve their nation to decide against military service, lie about their 
sexual orientation, or leave the military against their will. It was 
shameful that Don't Ask, Don't Tell was allowed to continue for so many 
years, and it gave me tremendous pride to support the policy's repeal 
last year.
  I am very disappointed that H.R. 1540, the Fiscal Year 2012 National 
Defense Authorization Act, included section 533, which would add a 
further step on the path to final repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. It 
requires that each of the Armed Forces service chiefs approve repeal. 
While I believe that the input of the military is critical to a smooth 
transition to open military service, the current process that is 
already underway to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell includes significant 
input from the uniformed military personnel and Defense Department 
leadership. In fact, under current law, the policy only ends 60 days 
after the President, Secretary of Defense, and Chairman of the Joint 
Chiefs of Staff approve a Defense Department report confirming that the 
repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell will not harm military readiness. 
Section 533 is nothing more than an attempt to delay final repeal.
  I supported final passage of H.R. 1540 because I strongly believe 
that the overwhelming majority of the provisions and policies in the 
legislation are good for our men and women in uniform and for the 
national security of the United States. However, I oppose the inclusion 
of section 533 or any other provision to delay the repeal of Don't Ask, 
Don't Tell in a final conference report on the Fiscal Year 2012 Defense 
Authorization Act. At a time of global military engagement, we simply 
cannot afford to tell patriotic men and women that they are unfit to 
serve because of who they love.

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