Press Release
Today, I was proud to join President Obama as he signed into law a bill to allow the Department of Defense to repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.' For far too long, this discriminatory policy has harmed our military's effectiveness by depriving it of the service of brave Americans willing to fight for their country. That's why our military's leaders, our troops, and a large majority of the American people all wanted 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' to be repealed.
"Today marks the end of the discriminatory 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy, with the Defense Department now empowered to implement its repeal. I have long called for the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' and I am proud to have fought to end it, from writing the compromise language that passed the House in May, to serving as the original co-sponsor of Rep. Patrick Murphy's stand alone legislation that passed the House this past week...
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 The majority of our troops want it repealed.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leaders of our Armed Forces – Secretary Gates and Admiral Mullen, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff – want it repealed, as well.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 U.S. Capitol features statues from every State in our Union—statues that honor some of the most memorable and influential people in America’s history. The people of the District of Columbia are part of our Union, as well: they pay federal taxes, vote in presidential elections, and share citizenship with us. But when it comes to seeing the District’s most notable citizens honored here in the Capitol, in their own city, the people of Washington, DC have again been left out. That needs to change.
Today the House passed the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010. This important legislation reaffirms our commitment to those who have served our country in the Armed Forces since September 11, 2001. It continues our strong investment in the education and careers of our servicemen and -women and America’s veterans, and it makes key improvements to the landmark Post-9/11 GI Bill that Democrats passed in the previous Congress.
I am deeply saddened by the death of Richard Holbrooke. He was a giant in the field of diplomacy, and his work will have a lasting impact across the world. From brokering the Dayton Peace Accords that ended the war in Bosnia, to serving as the U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, his knowledge and experience was immense and his insight into global affairs was indispensable. My thoughts and prayers are with his family
Today’s court ruling—like the previous federal district rulings affirming the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act—represents an individual step in the judicial process. I have every confidence that when the legal process has been concluded, the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act will be upheld
Today Rep. Patrick Murphy and I will be introducing a new bill to end Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. This discriminatory and harmful policy has weakened America’s security by depriving us of the work of tens of thousands of gay and lesbian troops who have served their country honorably. And it has severely compromised our Armed Forces’ core value of integrity.
I am extremely disappointed that the Senate failed to move the Defense Authorization measure containing a repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ forward.
I am pleased that today the House passed a year-long extension of the current Medicare physician payment rates and will now send the bill to the President’s desk for his signature. While this legislation will provide seniors with the security of continued access to the physician of their choice and our physicians with at least one full year of SGR relief, this remains a long-term problem that requires a permanent solution. It is my hope that we will revisit this problem in the coming months and that Republicans will join our efforts to secure a long-term solution.