News

Log Cabin Republicans Call for Fair and Open Debate on the National Defense Authorization Act of 2011

December 8, 2010

(Washington, DC) – As the National Defense Authorization Act of 2011 likely moves toward the Senate floor for a vote, Log Cabin Republicans call upon the Majority Leader to allow for a fair amendment process and open debate to facilitate repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'

"There is strong bipartisan support for passing the National Defense Authorization Act and ending 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' if Republicans are given a fair say in the final version of the defense bill," said R. Clarke Cooper, Log Cabin Republicans Executive Director. "After studying the Pentagon's Working Group report and hearing testimony from the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and each Service Chief that our military is ready and willing to implement open service, there is no reason for further delay. Passage of the NDAA is vital to the work of our armed forces. Americans can be confident our professional military men and women will have the same success implementing a policy of nondiscrimination applied by many of our allies.

Today, the Majority Leader stated that he will likely announce the amendment process for the NDAA this evening. Log Cabin Republicans strongly encourages him to allow for a fair and open debate that will bring Republican votes to the table so military funding will be authorized and we can finally put this failed and unconstitutional policy to rest."

Log Cabin Republicans have maintained a three-front strategy against 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' lobbying for repeal in Congress, consulting with the Department of Defense, and filing suit in federal court. The case went to trial in July of 2010, and Judge Virginia Phillips ruled on September 9, 2010 that the policy violated the First and Fifth Amendments of the Constitution.