[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10011]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     VOTING AGAINST THE FY 2011 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT

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                            HON. GENE TAYLOR

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 28, 2010

  Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Chair, I supported the version of the Fiscal Year 
2011 National Defense Authorization Act that my colleagues and I on the 
House Armed Services Committee passed through Committee on May 19, 2010 
by a unanimous vote of 59-0. The ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' issue was 
never debated or considered by the House Armed Services Committee at 
all this year during consideration of the National Defense 
Authorization Act.
  I associate myself with the remarks of Ranking Member Buck McKeon who 
stated that ``The Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint 
Chiefs of Staff asked Congress to respect the process they developed to 
study the ramifications of repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'' He 
further stated that ``we have a duty to honor that request and hear 
directly from our military personnel--and their families--before making 
a decision on a sensitive issue that directly affects them.'' I also 
agree with Chairman Skelton's statement on this issue: ``In testimony 
before the House Armed Services Committee this spring and in a recent 
letter, Secretary Gates and Admiral Mullen asked Congress to defer any 
legislative action regarding `Don't Ask, Don't Tell' until after the 
Department of Defense completes its comprehensive review later this 
year. In a statement today, the Pentagon indicated that ideally, 
Secretary Gates continues to prefer that the Department complete this 
review before Congress considers legislation. This is a reasonable and 
responsible request that I respect.'' He went on to say that ``My 
position on this issue has been clear--I support the current policy and 
I will oppose any amendment to repeal `Don't Ask, Don't Tell.' I hope 
my colleagues will avoid jumping the gun and wait for DOD to complete 
its work on this issue.'' I consider it an insult to our military 
leaders and service members for Congress to legislate change before the 
military's comprehensive study is complete.
  Unfortunately, last night, during floor consideration, the House 
voted to attach an amendment to National Defense Authorization Act 
repealing the military's current ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' policy.
  I voted against this amendment and I can no longer support the FY 
2011 National Defense Authorization Act if the repeal of ``Don't Ask, 
Don't Tell'' is included in the final bill. For the first time in my 20 
years in Congress, I will be voting against the House approved version 
of the National Defense Authorization Act.

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