LIEBERMAN PRAISES COMMITTEE APPROVAL OF ‘DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL’ REPEAL

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT) today issued the below statement following the Senate Armed Services Committee’s vote of 16-12 to include in the FY2011 National Defense Authorization Act an amendment he introduced that would repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’:

“Today, the Senate Armed Services Committee took a historic step forward to strengthen our military effectiveness and to begin to end a discriminatory policy that dishonors those patriotic Americans who are willing to defend our country. 

“With the effective leadership of Chairman Levin, my colleagues adopted a compromise amendment which carefully accommodates the recommendations of the Pentagon working group and is consistent with the military’s standards of readiness, effectiveness, unit cohesion, recruiting and retention. 

“My strong belief is that if Americans seek to put their lives on the line to serve this blessed country of ours, we should not deny those patriots that opportunity because of their sexual orientation.  The action which the Committee took today makes our country stronger and better.”

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