[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 6]
[House]
[Page 7407]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL

  (Mr. QUIGLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. QUIGLEY. Madam Speaker, the Secretary of Defense has asked 
Congress not to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell until the Pentagon has 
another year to review the policy.
  With all due respect, we've been reviewing the policy since its 
implementation in 1993. To paraphrase the words of Dr. Martin Luther 
King, here are some reasons why we can't wait:
  Another year of dismissals will add to the 13,500 who have already 
been fired under the law since 1994. Another year will reduce the ranks 
of mission-critical troops and linguists, harming our national 
security. Another year will mean we will continue to allow young 
patriots to lose their lives for us but not allow them to live the 
lives they choose.
  Our troops agree, our allies agree, and leaders of our Nation agree 
we must repeal this policy now. Dr. King wrote: ``The time is always 
right to do what is right.''
  Madam Speaker, that is why we can't wait.

                          ____________________