[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 141 (Wednesday, September 21, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1677]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               ON THE REPEAL OF ``DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL''

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. STEVEN R. ROTHMAN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 21, 2011

  Mr. ROTHMAN of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my 
strong support for the repeal of ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell.''
  Today, we are one step closer to our nation's promise of liberty and 
justice for all people. The repeal of this misguided policy has ensured 
that our country's laws are applied equally and that gay, lesbian, and 
bisexual service members will no longer have to lie about who they are 
in order to serve their country. It will also enhance our national 
security.
  As a member of the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, I 
believe that one of my most important jobs is to ensure that the U.S. 
armed forces remain the best equipped, best prepared, and most powerful 
in the world. By sending home more than 13,500 motivated and qualified 
patriotic service members since 1994, who were willing and fit to serve 
this country, ``Don't Ask Don't Tell'' has without a doubt weakened our 
military. I was privileged to have had the opportunity to vote in favor 
of its repeal.
  Today, all those in our society who are ready, able, and willing to 
serve in the U.S. military will be guaranteed their right to do so. The 
U.S. Constitution, specifically the 14th Amendment, requires the 
government to apply our laws equally. Now, only negative conduct, not 
one's sexual orientation, will be grounds for dismissal from our 
nation's military. Investing many millions of dollars to train these 
individuals and then dismissing them, in the absence of bad conduct, 
has wasted many millions of precious taxpayer dollars and compromised 
our national security.
  As we celebrate this major milestone, many formerly discharged 
service members will reenter the armed services to serve alongside 
their friends and military family. We must ensure that the U.S. 
military treats all of our service members equally. Gay, lesbian, and 
bisexual individuals must have access to the same rights as their 
hererosexual peers. Anything less is unacceptable and utterly un-
American.

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