WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) – Congressman Barney Frank on Tuesday, Dec. 14, released the following statement regarding the announcement by Majority Leader Steny Hoyer that the House will consider a stand-alone bill to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
“I am extremely pleased that the House Democratic leadership is continuing to do everything possible to enact the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’
“The introduction today of a stand-alone bill to repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ by Majority Leader Hoyer and Representative Patrick Murphy, the main sponsor of the legislation, is an important step towards advancing the goal of repeal. With the Senate now dealing with ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ as part of the Defense Authorization bill, which has its own set of controversies, this move will allow the House to send the Senate a stand-alone bill, which should ease the Senate’s path towards accomplishing the repeal, while at the same time allowing passage of the Defense Authorization bill.
“While I have always believed and still believe that these two should be done in tandem, they need not be done as one bill, and if we can achieve the enactment of both of those simultaneously, we will have accomplished important goals.”
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Preceding provided by Congressman Barney Frank