Reactions to House passage of DADT repeal bill
by: Pam Spaulding
Wed Dec 15, 2010 at 20:42:33 PM EST
http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/18220/reactions-to-house-passage-of-dadt-repeal-bill (http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/18220/reactions-to-house-passage-of-dadt-repeal-bill)
H.R. 2965, which repeals DADT (or, rather, initiates the repeal process), passed on a 250-175 vote today. Here's a roundup of reactions. First, from the office of House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer:
"Today the House voted once again to empower the Defense Department to repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' - a policy of officially-sanctioned discrimination," said House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer. "It forces brave men and women to lie about who they are, and it compromises the military's core value of integrity every day. The majority of our troops want it repealed. And the leaders of our Armed Forces - Secretary Gates and Admiral Mullen, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff - want it repealed, as well. The Senate must join the House and vote for a responsible end to 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' so we can send it to the President's desk for his signature."
[...]
THE WHITE HOUSE
Statement by the President on the House Passage of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010
I applaud the House for passing, with bipartisan support, the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010. Legislative repeal is supported by the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The process contained in this legislation allows for a smooth and responsible repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in a way that maintains good order and discipline in our military ranks. Indeed, all of the Service Chiefs have said that when this law is changed , they will implement an orderly transition effectively and efficiently. As the comprehensive study by the Department of Defense clearly shows, we can move to a new policy in a responsible manner that ensures our military strength and our national security.