[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 15]
[House]
[Page 22084]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  SUPPORT DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL REPEAL

  (Mr. GARAMENDI asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GARAMENDI. Madam Speaker, later today we're going to vote on 
Don't Ask, Don't Tell. This is a personal thing. I know a young 
gentleman who was in the Army, a graduate of West Point, extraordinary 
young African American. He's had two tours in Iraq, brought his company 
back safely from both tours without loss or injury to any member of his 
company.
  But he also honored the commitment of the military not to lie and to 
be honest and straightforward. He was gay, and he was drummed out of 
the military. It is an enormous loss to America. I have no doubt that 
this gentleman would be a general and could probably rise to the 
highest ranks of the military.
  We have to change the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy. Later today, 
we'll have a chance to do that, and I'm sure that our colleagues, in 
recognition of the need of this Nation for well-qualified men and women 
in the military, will do away with this policy and set in place an 
opportunity for every American to serve this country, wherever and 
whatever their circumstances might be.

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