[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 13945]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    REPEAL OF DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL

  (Mr. CICILLINE asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the end of a 
shameful and discriminatory policy, the policy of Don't Ask, Don't 
Tell, and to honor our brave military men and women who have served 
under it for almost two decades.
  As Thomas Jefferson wrote in our Declaration of Independence, ``Our 
country was conceived on the promise that all men are created equal, 
that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, 
that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.''
  Through nearly two-and-a-half centuries, these words have guided our 
Nation and made our society even more free. Repealing Don't Ask, Don't 
Tell is one more step towards full equality, but there is still so much 
work to be done.
  Regrettably, because of the Defense of Marriage Act, servicemembers 
will continue to face disparities for family programs and benefits even 
though they've made the same sacrifices as their fellow members of the 
armed services. This is not right. Let us be guided by the words of 
Thomas Jefferson and provide these men and women with the benefits 
they've earned in service to our country.
  I commend President Obama for bringing an end to this divisive policy 
and the senior members of our Nation's military who have begun to 
implement the change, and congratulate my colleagues here in Congress.
  I'm proud to honor the service of all of our men and women in uniform 
who serve in harm's way and to mark the end of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

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