July 8, 2010
Dear Keith,
Thank you for contacting me regarding efforts to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT), the law that bars openly gay men and women from serving in the U.S. armed forces. I appreciate hearing your views on this important topic.
Repealing DADT is priority for me, and that is why I am an original cosponsor of the bill to do away with this misguided law (S.3065). This is both a matter of national security and of honor and integrity, since the law actually requires service members to lie about who they are. As we engage in two global conflicts, it is important that we recruit and retain the highest quality soldiers.
To those who argue that the current law is "working," I need only point out that since the law's implementation, the armed forces have discharged over 12,000 qualified combat troops, code-breakers, medical and intelligence specialists and skilled translators simply for being gay. We cannot afford to discharge highly skilled soldiers on the basis of their sexual orientation. That is why I am proud to have voted for an amendment in the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 that would repeal DADT.
You may be interested in knowing what other action I have taken to lead on this important effort. On July 15, 2009, I gave a speech on the Senate floor in which I highlighted the need to repeal DADT. To view this segment of the speech, please visit the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rDhR_g7JV0&feature=player_embedded.
On October 15, 2009, I also sent a letter to President Obama applauding his intention and commitment to repeal DADT. I assured the president that I will continue to be vocal on this issue and urged him to request that Department of Defense Secretary Roberts Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen send their proposals on the timing of DADT's repeal and an action plan for repeal implementation. To see the full text of the letter, please visit this link: http://markudall.senate.gov/?p=blog&id=286.
On February 2, 2010, the Senate Armed Services Committee, of which I am a member, heard testimony from Secretary Gates and Admiral Mullen on the Administration's plan to repeal DADT. At this hearing, Admiral Mullen expressed his personal support for ending DADT, calling it a matter of "integrity." This testimony was part of the first Senate hearing on DADT since the law was passed in 1993. To view my questions to Secretary Gates and Admiral Mullen, please visit this link: http://markudall.senate.gov/?p=blog&id=411.
I believe the discriminatory DADT law undermines the strength and effectiveness of our military. I plan to work with my colleagues and with the Administration to see that we accomplish in a timely manner the full repeal of DADT. As the National Defense Authorization Act comes to the full Senate for a vote, I will remember your thoughts and will work hard to retain this provision in the bill.
I will continue to listen closely to what you and other Coloradans have to say about matters before Congress, the concerns of our communities, and the issues facing Colorado and the nation. My job is not about merely supporting or opposing legislation; it is also about bridging the divide that has paralyzed our nation's politics. For more information about my positions and to learn how my office can assist you, please visit my website at www.markudall.senate.gov.
Warm regards,
Signature
Mark Udall
U.S. Senator, Colorado
No comments:
Post a Comment