With elections all wrapped up, it is more important than ever to stay focused on the important work that the current Congress must still do. As the Senate reconvenes next week, they have the chance to take final action on the National Defense Authorization Act of 2011. Last year, Senator Lugar was one of a handful of Republicans who joined with the Democratic majority to vote for the NDAA which included the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Protection Act, and he has the chance to do the same this year with “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” attached. Without Senate action this year, it would be the first time in nearly half a century that Congress has failed to pass this critical legislation.
I touched down in the Hoosier state on Sunday afternoon and started running to keep up the support for repeal this year. After spending significant time out here earlier this year, and working to urge Senator Bayh to vote in favor of repeal in the Senate Armed Service Committee, it was easy to jump right back in and switch to pushing for Senator Lugar to do the same now, and to support repealing this discriminatory law.
We’ll be out here working to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” by mobilizing our grassroots folk on the ground, as well as our veteran allies, to contact Senator Lugar and insist that he do the right thing. If you’d like to get involved and help repeal this discriminatory law, contact me at Adrian.Matanza@hrc.org.
Additionally, If you’re in the Bloomington area next week, join HRC and the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network for a discussion with Major General Dennis J. Laich.
What: “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”: A Veteran’s Perspective
When: Thursday, November 18th, 2010, 12 noon
Where: Maurer School of Law, Room 123, IU Bloomington Bloomington, IN 47405
