In Congress

The Military Readiness Enhancement Act (HR 1246)

In 2007, Rep. Martin Meehan (D-MA) and a bipartisan group of 109 original cosponsors reintroduced the Military Readiness Enhancement Act in the House of Representatives. Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-CA) is now the lead sponsor, and is joined by 144 bipartisan cosponsors and counting. SLDN is working with key allies to introduce parallel legislation in the U.S. Senate.

The Military Readiness Enhancement Act would repeal the current ban on military service by openly lesbian, gay and bisexual Americans, commonly referred to as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” It would replace the current law with new provisions prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation in the Armed Forces. Current regulations regarding the personal conduct of military members would remain unchanged as long as they are written and enforced in a sexual orientation neutral manner. Persons previously discharged for being gay would be eligible to apply to rejoin the military. The Military Readiness Enhancement Act would not create a right to benefits for same-sex partners or spouses, because under current federal law such benefits would violate the federal Defense of Marriage Act.

Repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” would have a strong positive impact on military readiness in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Repeal would help the military to recruit and retain critical personnel. Over 12,500 service members have been discharged under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” since 1993, and countless others have made the choice not to join the military or have left military service at the end of their commitments rather than live under this discriminatory law. According to a 2005 GAO report, almost 800 persons discharged under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” had skills deemed “critical” by the military. Discharging linguists, doctors, nurses, mechanics, infantrymen, and intelligence analysts for no other reason than because they are gay hurts readiness and negatively impacts unit cohesion. Allowing gay Americans to serve will make our military stronger.

Repeal will save millions of taxpayer dollars every year. According to the GAO report, it has cost over $200 million to replace service members fired under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” GAO admits that this is an incomplete estimate; the true cost is even higher.

Repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” reflects American values. Polling shows that 75% of Americans support allowing gay Americans to serve openly in our nation’s Armed Forces. And Americans care deeply about treating our service members and veterans with the respect and thanks they deserve, not as second class citizens.. It is estimated that over 65,000 gay Americans serve in the Armed Forces now, and that our country is home to over one million gay veterans.

List of Cosponsors of the Military Readiness Enhancement Act (HR 1246)

Click here for the most recent THOMAS list of cosponsors of the Military Readiness Enhancement Act.

Section by Section Analysis of the Military Readiness Enhancement Act (HR 1246)

Click here to view our section by section analysis of HR 1246.

Text of the Military Readiness Enhancement Act (HR 1246) [PDF]

Re-introduced by Representative Martin Meehan (D-MA) in the 110th Congress, this bill aims to enhance the readiness of the Armed Forces by replacing the current policy concerning homosexuality with a policy of nondiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.