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Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher to Make Major Announcement Regarding “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

WHAT: A media conference call regarding a significant development in the Congressional effort to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

WHO: Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher (D-CA), a recognized leader on defense, homeland security and veterans' issues, will speak with members of the media about her new role in the Congressional campaign to repeal the military's ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual service personnel. A member of the House Armed Services Committee, Congresswoman Tauscher is chair of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee and a member of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee as well as the Air and Land Subcommittee. She has served on the House Defense Review Threat Panel, Subcommittee on Projection Force, and Subcommittee on Terrorism Unconventional Threats and Capabilities. She has also traveled to the Middle East five times since the start of the Iraq war, including three trips to Iraq, and has visited troops and met with foreign leaders in Iraq, Afghanistan and other Central Asian countries while serving in Congress.

Congresswoman Tauscher will be joined by Sharra E. Greer, Esq., director of law and policy for Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), and Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC).

WHY: Since 1993, more than 11,000 service personnel have been dismissed under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), nearly 800 of those dismissed had skills deemed "mission-critical" by the Pentagon, including more than 300 language experts. Every day, the armed forces fire at least two people for being lesbian, gay or bisexual. The Military Readiness Enhancement Act (H.R. 1246), a Congressional proposal to repeal the law, is currently pending in the U.S. House of Representatives, and is supported by a coalition of 125 bi-partisan lawmakers.

WHEN: Wednesday, June 13, 2007 ● 2pm EST

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