At 2 pm EST today the Military Personnel Subcommittee of the US House Armed Services Committee will be holding a hearing on the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," a law that prohibits honorable gay, lesbian and bisexual Americans from serving their country openly and honestly. This will be the first hearing to discuss repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" since Congress enacted it fifteen years ago. The Subcommittee is chaired by Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA <http://www.house.gov/susandavis/> ). Three witnesses calling for the repeal, include U.S. Army Major General Vance Coleman (Ret.), U.S. Navy Captain Joan E. Darrah (Ret.), and former Marine Staff Sgt. Eric F. Alva. Two witnesses in favor of the current law include Elaine Donnelly, President of the Center for Military Readiness <http://www.cmrlink.org/> and Sergeant Major Brian Jones, a former Army Special Operations Service Member and current business owner and chief executive officer. Current legislation before Congress, the Military Readiness Enhancement Act (MREA), HR 1246, would remedy this discriminatory and unworkable policy by replacing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" with a policy of non-discrimination. The legislation was introduced in the 110th Congress last year by Rep. Marty Meehan (D-MA). Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-CA) became the lead sponsor of MREA when Rep. Meehan retired. If you are interested in watching today's hearing and/or reading the witnesses' testimony, please visit this link: http://www.house.gov/hasc/
