RE: Overturning "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
To Whom It May Concern:
My name is Michael Watts and I am US Navy Veteran. I served for six years from 2002-2008. I was stationed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) from 2004-2008 as a nuclear propulsion plant mechanical operator.
As a young American and a Veteran of our armed forces, I am writing to urge you to help end the military’s discriminatory policy of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
As the House prepares to vote this week, I'm asking you, as a representative from the state of Texas, to vote for the Murphy Amendment supporting repeal.
In March Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen bravely came out in support of repeal. Earlier this week, the Obama Administration reconfirmed their support for ending this practice.
Repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” reaffirms the dignity and service of all our brave men and women in service. Since 1993, nearly 14,000 service persons have been separated from the military simply because of who they are. Repeal will not only make our country safer and stronger but will improve military readiness and save the American taxpayers $363 million in having to replace service members lost to this policy.
The number of service persons lost to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is the equivalent of three Nimitz class aircraft carriers. If we lost manning to three aircraft carriers, it would gravely cripple our nation’s defense. The strength of our military does not lie in the hardware such as ships and planes, but in our people. We are turning away key assets such as: Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Victor Fehrenbach, Air Force Major Mike Almy, Army Captain Anthony Woods, Army Lieutenant Dan Choi, Navy Lieutenant Jenny Kopfstein, Navy Petty Officer Rhonda Davis, and fellow Texan and Army Sergeant Anthony Bustos.
Throughout our nation’s history, it has been proven that patriotism does not know race and/or gender. Service persons from many different backgrounds are united in one cause: the defense of this great nation.
Thank you for your time and attention to this important matter and I hope I can count on you to do the right thing for our country.
Michael Joseph Watts
MM2 (SW/NUKE), US Navy Veteran 2002-08
Texas Young Democrats, Veterans/Military Affairs Caucus Chair
9 comments:
Excellent letter, Michael. I have sent my emails to my Reps.
Congressman Burgess's response
Dear Mr. Watts:
Thank you for contacting me regarding the military policy commonly referred to as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." I appreciate hearing your thoughts on this important issue.
As you may know, in 1993, after many months of study, debate, and political controversy, Congress passed and President Clinton signed legislation to establish the U.S. military's policy toward homosexual members of the armed forces that represented a compromise between the wishes of then-President Clinton and military leadership. The 1993 legislation, commonly referred to as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT), holds that service members are not to be asked about, nor allowed to discuss, their sexual orientation. The reasoning behind this policy is founded on the belief that the open acknowledgment of sexual orientation would compromise the high standards of morale, good order and discipline, and unit cohesion that is the essence of military capability. T issue has remained both politically and legally contentious.
In recent years, several members of Congress have expressed interest in amending DADT. At least one bill that would repeal the law, H.R. 1283, has been introduced in the 111th Congress. H.R. 1283, the Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2009, introduced by Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher (D-California) on March 3, 2009, would repeal the current Department of Defense policy concerning homosexuality in the Armed Forces. H.R. 1283 has been referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. While I am not a member of this committee, you can be certain that I will keep your comments in mind, should this bill be presented on the House Floor for a full vote.
Currently, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has appointed a Pentagon team to study the possible repeal of the policy and possible effects of implementing a new policy. Repealing DADT introduces a whole host of issues including the military's management of same-sex marriage, barracks co-habitation, and health care. While I remain open to viewing the results of the Pentagon study, currently, I stand against the repeal of the DADT policy. My views reflect those of Marine Corps Commandant General James Conway who has stated that the primary concern of the armed forces must be the two wars we are currently engaged, and the focus should not be drawn away from those priorities.
Again, thank you for taking the time to contact me. I appreciate having the opportunity to represent you in the U.S. House of Representatives. Please feel free to visit my website (www.house.gov/burgess) or contact me with any future concerns.
Sincerely,
Michael C. Burgess, M.D.
Member of Congress
Louie Gohmert is INSANE!
http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2010/05/27/gop-campaign-dadt
You have to love canned responses.
Congressman Doggett's response
Dear Michael:
Thank you for your communication. Yesterday, Congress took another important and long-overdue step in the march toward achieving equality for all Americans. With my strong support, the House narrowly approved, 234 to 194, the repeal of "Don't Ask Don't Tell." As you may know, I urged President Obama last year to immediately end this policy. Although today's measure is a compromise, I am pleased that Congress has voted to ensure that ability and patriotism, not sexual orientation, is the test for military service.
To better ensure that your priorities are my priorities, it is important that I hear from you and that you have the opportunity to receive updates about developments in Washington. If you have not already, please take a moment to visit my website at http://doggett.house.gov, where you can choose to receive periodic updates regarding issues that concern you. By signing up for "Lloyd's List," you are authorizing me to send regular e-mail updates from my office to your e-mail account. Help me work for you by signing up today.
Please keep me advised of federal matters with which I may be of assistance.
Sincerely,
Lloyd Doggett
Senator Hutchinson's response. I ENCOURAGE ANY VETERAN to contact Senator Hutchinson's office by any mean's necessary to let her know that we support repeal of DADT.
Dear Friend:
Thank you for contacting me about the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy regarding homosexuals serving in our Armed Forces. I welcome your thoughts and comments.
Officials from the Department of Defense previously testified before Congress that the current policy has served the military well. However, in recent months, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has publicly stated his support for repealing the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, pending the results of an internal Pentagon review of the policy. I oppose changing the policy at this time.
On March 3, 2009, former Representative Ellen Tauscher sponsored H.R. 1283, the Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2009. Her legislation would repeal the current policy. The bill has been referred to the House Military Personnel Subcommittee and will be considered by the House Armed Services Committee. On March 3, 2010, Senator Joseph Lieberman sponsored S. 3065, a bill that would also repeal the current policy. This bill has been referred to the Senate Armed Services Committee, on which I do not serve.
Should either of these bills come for consideration before the full Senate, please be assured that I will keep your thoughts in mind. I appreciate hearing from you, and I hope that you will not hesitate to contact me on any issue that is important to you.
Sincerely,
Kay Bailey Hutchison
United States Senator
284 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5922 (tel)
202-224-0776 (fax)
http://hutchison.senate.gov
Could someone please translate for me? It sounds like Congressman Smith is saying "NO" but in a roundabout way.
Oh, and even to this day, I find it weird when people call me Mr. Watts.
Dear Mr. Watts,
Many thanks for recent letter about repealing the current Armed Forces policy of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." I appreciate hearing from you.
The men and women of our armed forces confront one of the gravest threats of our time. They deserve our support and gratitude here at home and overseas.
The administration has appointed high-level officials from the Department of Defense to review the policy and report their findings in one year. However, when the House passed H.R. 5136, the National Defense Authorization Act, the bill included an amendment to end the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. The bill's repeal does not depend on approval from those serving in our military nor does it take into account the findings of a Pentagon study. H.R. 5136 passed the House on May 28, 2010, without my support, and it now awaits action in the Senate.
Be assured I will keep your concerns in mind should legislation come before the House regarding this or related matters.
For more information about my work in Congress, or to send me an email, please visit the 21st District's website at http://lamarsmith.house.gov.
Sincerely,
Lamar Smith
Member of Congress
Some positive feedback. Direct and to the point.
Dear Mr. Watts:
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me about the current policy concerning gay servicemembers. I appreciate hearing your views on this important issue.
Recently, both chambers of Congress took an unprecedented step towards ending the fiercely debated "Don't Ask Don't Tell" military policy. As you may know, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was created during the Clinton administration as a compromise between ending a ban on gay men and women serving openly in the military. I am proud to have supported the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011, H.R. 5136, which includes an amendment to repeal the current discriminatory practice, pending an internal comprehensive review by the Pentagon.
Our military is made up of the best and bravest men and women in our nation and I am confident that this bipartisan effort will help make our Armed Forces even stronger and more inclusive by allowing gay and lesbian soldiers to serve honestly and with integrity.
Once again, thank you for sharing your thoughts with me. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future regarding any of your legislative concerns.
Sincerely,
Charles A. Gonzalez
Member of Congress
One of your best letters. And thanks for including the responses back. --Deborah Becker
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