Senate Armed Services Committee Votes for Repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell
The House of Representatives passed (by recorded vote: 229 - 186) the reauthorization of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011, containing the amendment cited below; service members are urged not 'to come out of the closet' until a study is completed on the effects the act will have on various aspects of the Armed Services.
The Senate Armed Services Committee first voted to repeal the US military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, Chairman Carl Levin, D- Mich., announced today. The committee voted 16-12 to approve the amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act of 2011, removing a key barrier to ending the policy that prohibits military service by openly gay men and women. The amendment was authored by Sens. Joe Lieberman, ID-Conn., and Levin.
“Today’s action by the Senate Armed Services Committee is an important step to end this discriminatory policy,” Levin said. “This legislation provides for the completion of the Pentagon study of how to effectively end the ban and ensures that its repeal will not disrupt our military’s readiness, morale or cohesion. I believe that allowing gay and lesbian service members to serve openly will open the ranks to more patriotic men and women who wish to serve their country.”
If signed into law, the amendment would repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell only when the president, secretary of defense and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff certify that repeal can be achieved consistent with the military’s standards of readiness, effectiveness, unit cohesion, and recruiting and retention. The administration indicated earlier this week that it supports the amendment.
The vote came during the markup for the National Defense Authorization Act of 2011. That bill will be considered by the full Senate later this year. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Pa., is sponsoring a similar measure in the House of Representatives.
Committee Amendment Proposed by Mr. Lieberman
SEC. [ARM10802]. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE POLICY CONCERNING HOMOSEXUALITY IN THE ARMED FORCES.
(a) COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A REPEAL OF 10 U.S.C. § 654. —
(1) IN GENERAL. — On March 2, 2010, the Secretary of Defense issued a memorandum directing the Comprehensive Review on the Implementation of a Repeal of 10 U.S.C. § 654 (section 654 of title 10, United States Code).
(2) OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE OF REVIEW. — The Terms of Reference accompanying the Secretary’s memorandum established the following objectives and scope of the ordered review:
(A) Determine any impacts to military readiness, military effectiveness and unit cohesion, recruiting/retention, and family readiness that may result from repeal of the law and recommend any actions that should be taken in light of such impacts.
(B) Determine leadership, guidance, and training on standards of conduct and new policies.
(C) Determine appropriate changes to existing policies and regulations, including but not limited to issues regarding personnel management, leadership and training, facilities, investigations, and benefits.
(D) Recommend appropriate changes (if any) to the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
(E) Monitor and evaluate existing legislative proposals to repeal 10 U.S.C. § 654 and proposals that may be introduced in the Congress during the period of the review.
(F) Assure appropriate ways to monitor the workforce climate and military effectiveness that support successful follow-through on implementation.
(G) Evaluate the issues raised in ongoing litigation involving 10 U.S.C. § 654.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by subsection (f) shall take effect only on the date on which the last of the following occurs:
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