[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 130 (Thursday, September 10, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H5879]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  RESTORE HONOR TO SERVICE MEMBERS ACT

  (Mr. HIGGINS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, during the debate on repealing Don't Ask, 
Don't Tell 4 years ago, we noted that gay and lesbian Americans have 
fought with distinction in every war in our Nation's history, which is 
true. But while they fought to protect us, we failed to protect them.
  Over 100,000 Americans were discharged from the military between 1945 
and 2011 solely because of their sexual orientation. These discharges 
were often less than honorable, which impacted their veterans benefits 
and served as a rebuke to their service and sacrifice.
  We can and must do better.
  The Department of Defense allows veterans who were discharged solely 
for their sexual orientation to petition for an upgrade to an honorable 
discharge. I encourage all of my colleagues to conduct research in 
their districts to inform veterans of this opportunity and to assist 
them in their applications.
  Congress should pass the Restore Honor to Service Members Act, 
introduced by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Mark Pocan, to 
codify this opportunity for veterans to remove this insult from their 
records.
  A good and grateful Nation owes these brave Americans nothing less.

                          ____________________