[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 12, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E291-E292]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             CELEBRATING THE PALM CENTER'S 20TH ANNIVERSARY

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                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 12, 2019

  Mr. HASTINGS. Madam Speaker, I am honored to rise today to recognize 
the Palm Center on the occasion of their 20th anniversary. Founded in 
1998 by the University of California, Santa Barbara, the Palm Center 
conducts policy research on key social and political issues affecting 
the most vulnerable Americans. For 20 years, the Palm Center has been a 
trailblazer in efforts to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, and 
transgender (LGBT) service members. The organization has worked 
diligently against the discriminatory ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' (DADT) 
policy, which prohibited service members of the LGBT community from 
disclosing their sexuality while serving.
  The Palm Center's independent research has enhanced the quality of 
public dialogue and contributed to the work of independent scholars, 
students, journalists, members of the public, and policymakers, like 
myself. In 2009, the Palm Center's research was a welcomed resource 
that allowed me to introduce the Open and Honest Testimony Act. This 
legislation addressed the discriminatory DADT policy by allowing LGBT 
troops to testify openly without the risk of discharge and ensured that 
Congress based its decision on the best possible information.
  In 2013, the largest collection of research on DADT policy was 
published in the Journal of Homosexuality. This publication was 
composed of the work of Palm Center scholars, as well as reviews of the 
literary works of Palm Center authors. The Palm Center was the first to 
release a study on openly gay military service members following the 
repeal of DADT. Even after its repeal, the Palm Center has continued 
its work against other anti-LGBT military policies.
  The Palm Center's current research focuses on transgender military 
service. This research comes at a pivotal time when President Trump's 
Administration threatens the ability of transgender men and women to 
serve in our military. The Palm Center's scholarship has made it 
abundantly clear that the transgender ban would weaken our military 
readiness, cause substantial disruptions, deprive the military of 
talent, and wreak havoc on the lives of military families. The research 
the Palm Center is conducting is crucial to negating the misinformation 
and belittling rhetoric the Trump Administration continues to engage in 
regarding our brave transgender service members.
  Madam Speaker, I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the 
Palm Center on its 20th anniversary. The work they are doing to provide 
the public with accurate and evidence-based information is invaluable 
to us all. I look forward to continuing my work with the Palm Center, 
and wish them many more years of great success.

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