“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Advances Through the Congress
On Thursday May 27, 2010, the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate Armed Services Committee voted to allow openly gay people to serve in the U.S. military once certain conditions are met.
The Senate Armed Services Committee by a vote of 16-12, during a closed mark-up of the draft defense authorization bill, approved the repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. This was an amendment to the Defense authorization bill sponsored by Joseph I. Lieberman (I-CT). The only democratic Senator who voted against this amendment was Jim Webb (D-VA) and Susan Collins (R-ME) was the only republican who voted for it. The vote has been called historic and has generated some intense opposition. The Senate Armed Services Committee completed its mark-up with Scott Brown (R-MA) as the only republican who voted for the bill. It is anticipated that Senate Republicans may plan a filibuster on the defense policy bill over the “don’t ask, don’t tell” issue when the full Senate considers this measure.
The House Armed Services Committee voted 234-194, to adopt an amendment to the fiscal 2011 defense authorization bill (H.R. 5136), sponsored by Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-PA), which would repeal (P.L.103-60) a 1993 law which codified this military ban once a study is completed. The study is due December 1. The House then voted on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 which passed by a vote of 229-186. Once the Senate approves its version of the bill they will have to reconcile their differences with the House and bring the final measure to both Houses for a final vote.
ANA’s Involvement in this Issue:
In June 1992, a House of Delegates Action Report on “Discrimination Against Gays and Lesbians by the Military” required the ANA Board to oppose the policies of the United States Department of Defense which discriminate against gays and lesbians in the armed forces. On November 12, 1992, ANA sent a letter to President-elect Clinton urging him to end discrimination against the recruitment and retention of lesbians and gays in the military service.
During the 103rd Congress, ANA actively participated in the National Organizations Responding to Discrimination by Sexual Orientation in the Military (NORDSOM) coalition to oppose the ban on military service by lesbians and gays, and participated in the extensive preparatory work that took place prior to hearings conducted by the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee.
In 1995, the ANA Board of Directors adopted the following statement:
The American Nurses Association continues to work toward the elimination of discrimination based upon age, color, creed, disability, gender, health status, lifestyle, nationality, race, religion, sexual orientation, or other arbitrary or unjust considerations.
In 2001, the ANA House of Delegates adopted a position which resolved that the American Nurses Association study policy alternatives to address discrimination experienced by nurses in the U.S. uniformed services of the Department of Defense, and formulate strategies in collaboration with other professional organizations to oppose discrimination against nurses and other health care providers in the U.S. Department of Defense health care system.
ANA is pleased that these amendments have been adopted and will work towards their inclusion in the final Defense Authorization bill.
Rose Gonzalez, MPS, RN
Tags: "Don't Ask Don't Tell", 2011 defense authorization bill, House Armed Services Committee, Jim Webb (D-VA), Joseph I. Lieberman (I-CT), May 2010, Patrick Murphy (D-PA), Scott Brown (R-MA), Senate Armed Services Committee, Susan Collins (R-ME)
