Your chance to watch Congress in action!

[beckyg]

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/